Kathrine Frich
The incident has triggered an inter-agency inquiry in the United States.
Space cooperation between Russia and the West has steadily eroded since the invasion of Ukraine, and every joint project now sits under heightened scrutiny.
The removal of a veteran cosmonaut from a SpaceX mission has added fresh tension, raising questions about access to sensitive technology and the future of shared missions.
Investigation launched
The Moscow Times reported that Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemiev was taken off an upcoming SpaceX flight to the International Space Station after allegedly mishandling restricted documents during training.
The Insider, an investigative outlet, said Artemiev was accused of photographing and taking materials from SpaceX’s facility in Hawthorne, California.
Space industry analyst Georgi Trishkin told The Insider that American agencies had already opened an investigation.
The allegations involve technical data linked to propulsion systems and other items controlled under US export regulations.
Photos of engines
A well-known Telegram channel covering space affairs, Yura Prosti, separately claimed that Artemiev was removed from the mission last week for photographing SpaceX engines and sensitive training materials.
These components are covered by strict rules governing how foreign nationals may access or handle them.
Trishkin expressed disbelief that such an error could happen by accident.
“It’s hard to imagine that an experienced cosmonaut could unintentionally make such a serious mistake,” he told The Insider.
Veteran career in jeopardy
Artemiev is an established figure in Russia’s space program, having previously flown multiple missions to the International Space Station.
His reported removal marks a rare and significant step, especially at a time when US-Russia cooperation in orbit remains one of the few active areas of scientific partnership.
Neither NASA nor SpaceX has publicly commented on the allegations. Russian officials have also not issued a statement on his status or on the investigation now underway.
Sources: Digi24, The Moscow Times, The Insider.
