The US embassy in Moscow declined to comment. refusal to issue a visa to cosmonaut Nikolai Chub. They said that internal rules do not allow comments, and noted only that they are making every effort to continue issuing visas to astronauts even with a limited staff.
“The United States appreciates the important bilateral cooperation on the International Space Station. And despite serious personnel problems, the embassy in Moscow continues to pay attention to issuing visas for astronauts,” said in an interview with RIA News Jason Rebholtz, press secretary of the diplomatic mission.
As previously reported, Chubu was denied a visa without explanation. He was due to travel to the US to begin training for the ISS flight at the Johnson Space Center. All astronauts undergo such training, including to study the work of the American segment of the orbital station. The flight itself is scheduled for spring 2023.
In connection with the failure to issue a visa to the cosmonaut, the head of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin promised to ask for an explanation from the head of NASA Bill Nelson.