The Spektrum-Röntgen-Gamma, launched in 2019 aboard a Proton rocket, is Russia's most significant space science mission since the dissolution of the Soviet Union more than three decades ago.
See also: Russia uses powerful laser weapon that destroys satellites and drones
The Spektr-RG spacecraft, weighing 1.2 tons, is orbiting about 1.5 million km from Earth and is an advanced X-ray observatory designed to detect and map galaxy clusters as well as supermassive black holes. The idea for the spacecraft began during the Soviet Union, but like many major space projects, it was shelved during the collapse of the USSR.
The Russian space agency Roscosmoseventually partnered with the German space agency, DLR, to carry out the mission. Under the plan, Russia built the Spektr-RG spacecraft and launched it, while the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics based in Germany designed and built the spacecraft's main instrument, called eROSITA. This instrument received its first observations in late 2019 and was intended to conduct a seven-year survey.
See also: Elon Musk: Russia is trying to hack Starlink in Ukraine
All was well until Russia invaded Ukraine earlier this year. As part of the Western response to that aggression, Germany took the step of halting cooperation with Russia on the Spektr-RG telescope. At that time, eROSITA had completed four of its eight “all-sky” surveys and had been put into suspension mode.
But now, Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozinhas said it's time to reactivate eROSITA.
German officials said restarting the scientific instrument without their cooperation could damage the telescope.
The move represents another targeted move by Rogozin, who has been a prominent supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine. Sources have suggested that Rogozin's actions are aimed at currying favor with Putin and that he is willing to sacrifice space to appear "strong" to his boss.
See also: Starbucks is leaving Russia and closing 130 stores
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia has seen a steadily decreasing space budget. Almost all of its new efforts in this field have arisen from cooperation with Western partners, including the International Space Station, Spektr-RG, and many other projects. By cutting these bridges with the Western nations, which like to cooperate with Russia because of the technical expertise of its workforce, Russia ensures its further isolation in space.
The Spektr-RG telescope was intended to propel Russian scientists to the forefront of the field of X-ray astronomy.
