00:00Yes, so you talk about space and Earth politics, which I think is a wonderful way to explain things.
00:06But how much of an effect has global politics had when it comes to space collaboration?
00:12You were just talking about it there, but it seems like Russia is becoming increasingly marginalised.
00:18And what does their space programme look like now from when we remember it back almost 20 years ago?
00:25And do they still have finances on their side?
00:28Until the Ukrainian war started, it was very much a question about collaboration on both sides.
00:35It was almost like space was a bit immune.
00:38Part of that was because space is scientific, it's the common quest for humankind.
00:43But it did seem like the Earth politics couldn't reach the outer space.
00:48However, there was also another argument and a reason for that.
00:54And that's because for a period of time, the Americans did not have access to space, to the International Space Station.
01:00They simply did not have, after the space shuttle was retired, access to go to space, to go to orbit.
01:08So they had to rely exclusively on the Soyuz rocket.
01:12So there was also a bit of necessity towards the end of it.
01:14But after the Ukrainian war, things changed.
01:17Russia went a lot more independent.
01:20China has got their own space station up there today and doing their thing.
01:24So there has been a little bit of a breakup in terms of this collaboration, although occasionally the agencies do get together.
01:33So, for instance, when Chang'e 4, the Chinese mission, landed on the dark side of the moon, they could not have done that amazing feat if it wasn't with a bit of help from NASA, with a bit of help from the Europeans as well, and Russians as well.
01:48It was actually a nice collaboration, even though it was less advertised, it was more presented as a Chinese victory.
01:56But it certainly was collaboration.
01:58So there is, in the scientific community, a desire to stay away from politics as much as possible, but obviously it does affect.
02:08In terms of the budget on the Russian side, yes, I mean, a lot of that is going to the war machine at the moment.
02:13So clearly resources are being directed and it's perhaps less important to be seen as a space conqueror just for the pride and prestige.
02:23But when it comes to the military side of things, beyond no illusion, there is a lot of dollars being invested also on the Russian side in terms of military capabilities from space.
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