MOSCOW, April 11 (RIA Novosti) - NASA will encourage the participation of US scientists at an upcoming international space research conference this summer in Moscow, despite recently curbing cooperation with Russia, according to a letter published by the group organizing the meeting.
The US representative to the Assembly of the International Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) sent a letter to the organization announcing NASA's support for the conference.
The letter, published on COSPAR's website, said that both the US Academy of Sciences and NASA had supported not only exempting the meeting from recent NASA sanctions against Russia, but encouraging US space scientists to attend.
NASA recently announced the suspension of cooperation with Russia on a number of projects due to the situation in Ukraine, excepting work on the International Space Station (ISS). Many NASA officials expressed displeasure with the decision, noting that scientific cooperation should not be politicized.
COSPAR holds a biannual assembly for scientists to present the most important results of space research, and discuss related issues. The committee develops standards and regulations in the field of space activities, in particular, interplanetary biological safety rules designed to prevent contamination of other celestial bodies with terrestrial microorganisms.
The first assembly was held in St. Petersburg in 1970, with COSPAR coming back to Russia in August this year, to be hosted at Moscow State University.
Earlier this week, the US Department of Energy allegedly banned its scientists from traveling to Russia and blocked access for Russian scientists to its major physics research centers.
While no official statement has been made by the American side, the Russian Education Ministry demanded clarification as the move would be a serious step back in academic cooperation that has proven beneficial to both countries.
