Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Image credit: Roscosmos

Russia’s Dmitry Bakanov, the Director of Roscosmos, is scheduled to meet with Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy to discuss the cross-flight program and the future of the International Space Station.

Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy.
Image credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

This is the first face-to-face meeting between the heads of Russian and US space agencies in eight years, according to a Roscosmos posting.

During his U.S. trek, Bakanov is to visit the NASA Johnson Space Center and tour Boeing’s manufacturing facilities where the CST-100 Starliner is being developed.

Bakanov will be meeting the Crew-11 mission team that includes Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. The launch is no earlier than July 31.

Other members of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission are NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Kimiya Yui.

SpaceX Crew-11 mission (left to right) are Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov NASA astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Kimiya Yui.
Image credit: NASA