The Director-General of Roscosmos, Dmitry Bakanov, has arrived in the United States for a series of important meetings. According to the state corporation`s press service, the agenda includes discussions with NASA leadership and a meeting with the Crew Dragon spacecraft crew, which includes Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. This visit marks the first in-person meeting between the heads of the Russian and U.S. space agencies in eight years.
As part of the program, Bakanov and his delegation will tour the Johnson Space Center facilities to familiarize themselves with their operations. A visit to Boeing`s production unit, where the reusable piloted CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is being developed, is also planned, along with negotiations with representatives of the company`s space program.
Furthermore, ahead of the Crew-11 mission launch scheduled for July 31, Dmitry Bakanov will meet with the Crew Dragon crew. Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, embarking on his first space flight as part of the cross-flight program, is a member of this crew. To conclude the visit, the head of Roscosmos will participate in readiness review activities for the upcoming mission launch to the International Space Station at the John F. Kennedy Space Center.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth