A Russian cosmonaut has been removed from SpaceX’s upcoming Crew 12 mission due to reported violations of U.S. national security regulations. Oleg Artemyev, who was slated to join the four-person mission to the International Space Station (ISS), has been replaced by fellow cosmonaut Andrei Fedyayev. The announcement came from Roscosmos, Russia’s space agency, which indicated that Artemyev’s removal was linked to his transfer to a different position.
However, as reported by the investigative outlet The Insider, Artemyev’s removal is tied to serious allegations involving the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). This U.S. law aims to protect national security by restricting sensitive information and technology dissemination. According to The Insider, Artemyev allegedly took photographs of SpaceX documentation and used his phone to export classified information.
Gregory Trishkin, a launch analyst cited by The Insider, confirmed that a violation had occurred and that an interdepartmental investigation is underway. He remarked, “Removing someone from a mission two and a half months before the mission without a clear explanation is more of an indirect sign, but it’s indicative.” Trishkin added that it is difficult to envision a situation where an experienced cosmonaut could inadvertently commit such a significant violation.
Reports indicate that the alleged infractions took place last week while Artemyev was undergoing training at SpaceX’s headquarters in Hawthorne, California. It is claimed that he photographed SpaceX engines and other sensitive technologies during this training session.
SpaceX’s Crew 12 mission is part of a contract with NASA to transport astronauts to the ISS. Scheduled to launch no earlier than February 15, 2024, the mission will include Fedyayev, along with Sophie Adenot from the European Space Agency (ESA) and two additional astronauts who have yet to be named.
Artemyev, 54, has previously spent a total of 560 days in space across three long-duration missions to the ISS, with launches occurring in March 2014, March 2018, and March 2022. His most recent flight launched shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has led to ongoing conflict.
In a controversial incident in July 2022, Roscosmos shared images of Artemyev and two fellow cosmonauts on the ISS displaying flags from Russian-backed separatist regions in Ukraine. This act drew condemnation from NASA and the head of ESA, who emphasized that the ISS should not serve as a platform for wartime propaganda.
As the investigation proceeds, the implications of Artemyev’s removal may extend beyond individual consequences, potentially affecting international cooperation in space exploration. The global community will be closely monitoring further developments regarding this situation.
