Russia’s state-run space corporation Roscosmos offered its help to NASA amid the Starliner troubles, just like US colleagues did when Russia experienced issues with its Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft, Roscosmos Director General Yury Borisov has told reporters.

Borisov recalled the December 2022 loss of pressure in Soyuz MS-22’s external radiator cooling loop, which resulted in a decision not to use it for crew return. As a result, the spacecraft returned to the Earth on an uncrewed mission. Back then, the US side offered seats in its SpaceX Crew-5 spacecraft for the MS-22 crew that remained aboard the ISS. However, Roscosmos sent its Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft on an unmanned mission to bring the cosmonauts back.

"We did the same under these circumstances, although we were absolutely sure that the US side is guaranteed to cope with this situation on its own," Borisov said at a press conference.

He went on to say that space missions remain a risky endeavor, where all sorts of emergencies are possible.

"It is necessary to always have a backup plan. This is why our close cooperation is a prerequisite for the space station’s reliable and sustainable operation. This [cooperation] is worth a lot, it took years to be created and it will be very sad to lose it," he said, adding that Roscosmos will do its best to preserve the current spirit of cooperation.