Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will stop using the European Robotic Arm (ERA) in response to the European Space Agency's refusal to cooperate with Russia on the Mars Astrobiology project, Rogozin said Thursday.
The European arm is attached to the outer shell of the Russian module of the International Space Station (ISS) and is used to support spacewalks and move supplies, including scientific equipment.
Rogozin said in a post on social media that he would instruct Russian cosmonauts to stop using the European robotic arm installed on the Iss's Science module, and that Rogozin would make every effort to return the Cossack Dance Mars lander, which Russia is using to carry out its Mars astrobiology program.
The European Space Agency's board of directors has decided to terminate its Mars astrobiology program with Russia, The agency's director general Said in a post on social media. On the 13th, Roscosmos corporation confirmed receipt of the European Space Agency's decision.