Russian astronaut replaced on SpaceX mission due to security breach

Dec. 3 Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev, 54, has been withdrawn from the upcoming SpaceX Crew 12 mission following allegations of a serious breach of U.S. national security protocols. Authorities claim Artemyev accessed sensitive materials in violation of U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations, which govern the handling of information critical to national security.

According to Space.com, citing Russian investigative outlet The Insider, Artemyev reportedly photographed SpaceX documents and transferred classified data using his personal phone. An interagency investigation into the incident has been initiated.

Launch analyst Georgy Trishkin noted that removing a cosmonaut from a mission just over two months before launch is unusual, highlighting the severity of the alleged violation. He added that it is hard to envision an experienced cosmonaut unintentionally committing such a significant breach.

The alleged security lapse occurred during Artemyevs training at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California, where he is said to have photographed engine components and other confidential technology. Following the incident, Artemyev has been reassigned, and cosmonaut Andrei Fedyayev will replace him on the mission, confirmed Roscosmos officials.

Fedyayev, a Hero of Russia and commissioned cosmonaut since 2013, received the Yuri Gagarin Medal in 2023 and completed a prior mission to the International Space Station aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft.

This personnel change comes after NASA and Roscosmos resumed collaborative spaceflights in September 2022, following a temporary suspension triggered by Russias invasion of Ukraine. Artemyev had previously participated in a joint Roscosmos-European Space Agency mission that included a spacewalk at the ISS in July 2022. He had also publicly shown support for Russias actions in Ukraine during a space mission when Russian cosmonauts wore yellow-and-blue spacesuits, which some observers interpreted as a political statement.

Author: Caleb Jennings