Russian Cosmonaut Removed from ISS Mission Over SpaceX Photo Allegations

A veteran Russian cosmonaut has been removed from an upcoming mission to the International Space Station following allegations that he photographed sensitive materials at a SpaceX facility in California, prompting concerns over U.S. export control violations. Oleg Artemyev, 54, who was set to join NASA's Crew-12 flight aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, has been replaced by fellow cosmonaut Andrei Fedyayev. The mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than February 15, 2026, from Florida's Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Roscosmos, Russia's space agency, announced the crew change on December 2, stating that Artemyev had been transferred to another job without providing further details. The agency described him as a Hero of Russia for his contributions to space exploration. However, Russian investigative reports indicate the removal stems from an incident during Artemyev's training at SpaceX's headquarters in Hawthorne last month. He is accused of taking photographs of rocket engines, technical documentation, and other restricted equipment using his phone and then removing the images from the premises.

The alleged actions appear to violate the...