U.S. export control breach triggers removal from Crew 12
A Russian cosmonaut, Oleg Artemyev, has been removed from the Crew 12 mission to the International Space Station following accusations that he attempted to illicitly copy classified documentation belonging to Elon Musk’s company SpaceX. According to The Insider, which relayed details from rocket-launch analyst Georgy Trishkin through its report on the investigation into Artemyev’s actions, the 54-year-old was excluded for violating U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). While training at SpaceX’s Hawthorne facility in California, Artemyev allegedly photographed engines and internal documentation on his phone and then tried to take the material off-site. Trishkin confirmed that the breach is under investigation and that removing a cosmonaut just months before launch signals the seriousness of the incident.
Roscosmos downplays the scandal as security concerns escalate
Roscosmos officially claimed that Artemyev was replaced due to a “transfer to other duties”, but the explanation has raised further questions. His seat on the early-2026 Crew 12 flight will be taken by cosmonaut Andrei Fedyayev, who previously flew to the ISS aboard Crew Dragon. The switch has already been reflected on the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre website. Artemyev had been part of the cross-flight programme, which allows Russian cosmonauts to fly on U.S. spacecraft and American astronauts on Soyuz vehicles to ensure continuous presence from both countries on the station.
The incident is viewed as an unprecedented case of espionage within international space cooperation. Removing a crewmember at this stage underscores U.S. concerns over security breaches and signals that the protection of proprietary technology will play a growing role in shaping future cooperation formats on the ISS.
Growing evidence of Russia’s technological desperation
Roscosmos’s attempt to downplay the scandal fits a pattern of avoiding public accountability, reinforcing suspicions that the case represents a deliberate act of industrial espionage. Analysts note that Russia, struggling under sanctions and suffering from chronic technological stagnation, increasingly seeks illicit access to Western innovations to compensate for widening gaps in capability.
The crisis within Russia’s space industry is deepening. Years of underfunding, corruption and technical decline have resulted in frequent failures, long launch delays and limited ability to modernise key systems. On 27 November 2025, a Soyuz MS-28 launch accident at Baikonur damaged the launch pad, forcing a temporary halt to crewed missions. In this climate, Russia’s ability to compete with rapidly advancing private companies like SpaceX has sharply diminished, making attempts to acquire technology through covert means more likely.
Implications for SpaceX, NASA and future joint missions
The attempt to obtain restricted SpaceX technology highlights the widening technological gulf between Moscow and private U.S. operators. For Elon Musk and his company, the ITAR breach represents a critical security incident that could reshape internal policies, potentially leading to tighter controls or reduced access for Russian personnel to SpaceX facilities.
The case may also impact the future of the NASA–Roscosmos cross-flight programme, which depends on mutual trust between the agencies. Incidents of this magnitude could prompt stricter vetting procedures, enhanced security protocols and a broader reassessment of cooperation with Russia in crew training and mission preparation. As geopolitical tensions intensify, safeguarding advanced space technologies is likely to become a decisive factor in the evolution of international spaceflight partnerships.
