KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — There are currently four NASA astronauts, two Russian cosmonauts and one European astronaut living and working aboard the International Space Station.

They are relying on one another for the safe operation of the station.

READ: Billionaire who flew SpaceX last year going back into orbit

Despite the Russian invasion of Ukraine, NASA officials said no changes are planned for either in-orbit or ground station operations.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

However, U.S. and Russian tensions are spilling over into space.

The head of Russia’s space agency suggested on Thursday that new U.S. sanctions have the potential to destroy cooperation on the International Space Station.

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 35

NASA history In this image released by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), astronaut Richard M. Linnehan works to replace the starboard solar array on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) during an extravehicular activity (EVA) to try and upgrade some components of the telescope March 4, 2002 in space. NASA plans to replace the Hubble telescope with the new James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and plans to deorbit the Hubble telescope sometime in 2010. According to Anne Kinney, division director of astronomy and physics at NASA headquarters, NASA states August 1, 2003 that it is firmly committed to the new JWST, a deep-space observatory due for launch in 2011 on a European Ariane 5 rocket. (Photo by NASA/Getty Images) (NASA/Getty Images)

Russia operates one segment of the ISS and the U.S. the other.

However, NASA maintains it’s continuing to work with all of its international partners.

As conflict continues on Ukraine’s soil, roughly 250 miles above NASA and ESA astronauts continue their mission along with Russian cosmonauts.

READ: NASA sets date for first rollout of Artemis 1 moon mission rocket

“We’ve been through tumultuous times in the past, never anything quite like this,” said Dale Ketcham with Space Florida. “But we continue to collaborate. We’re basically dependent on one another.”

However, based on President Joe Biden’s recent comments on international sanctions against Russia, that relationship is strained.

READ: NASA’s new space telescope sees 1st starlight, takes selfie

“We estimate that we’ll cut off more than half of Russia’s high-tech imports,” Biden said. “It will strike a blow to their ability to continue to modernize their military. It will degrade their aerospace industry including their space program.”

NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei is currently scheduled to return to Earth at the end of next month, aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

See more in the video above.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, and click here to watch the latest news on your Smart TV.

©2022 Cox Media Group