Two US space engineers are currently imprisoned in a capsule in Moscow, participating for eight months NASA space experiment, as if unaware of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the race to get American citizens out of Russia.
William Brown and Ashley Kowalski are currently living in the capsule with three Russians and an Emir for a NASA experiment known as SIRIUS 21, which includes isolation for eight months as part of a space mission simulation.
They entered the capsule in November and should not be released until July this year. The only contact the group has with the outside world are letters that are uploaded to a secure server managed by a coordinator involved in the experiment.
The last time Brown’s friends heard from him was before Putin began his invasion of Ukraine on February 24, and now they are worried about how much the group knows.
They also cannot be sure that the letters written after the invasion reach the team or who is responsible for controlling the server.
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William Brown (front left) and Ashley Kowalski (rear center) currently live in the capsule with three Russians and an emirate for a NASA experiment known as SIRIUS 21, which includes eight months of isolation as part of a space mission simulation. It is not known how much they know about the war in Ukraine or about the deteriorating relations between Russia and the rest of the world. They are joined in the capsule by Russians Oleg Blinov (front center), Victoria Kirichenko (rear left), Ekaterina Kariakina (rear right) and Emirate of Saleh Al Ameri (front right)
Ashley Kowalski, 32, and William Brown, 36, are American engineers with extensive engineering experience. They registered for a NASA experiment last year and entered the capsule in November after being physically tested
The group entered the capsule on November 3, and since then their only contact has been through letters uploaded to a server.
The crew is shown inside the capsule, enjoying a Thanksgiving dish prepared for them by a chef. Their friends say they can’t be sure how much they know about the ongoing war
NASA will not comment on how much the crew knows or whether they plan to stop the experiment and take them out.
The United States has now closed its airspace to Russia, which means that Russian merchant planes cannot fly to America.
It remains unclear whether Putin will retaliate by closing its airspace to US airlines, but doing so makes it even harder for all Americans in Russia to get out.
On Sunday, the State Department issued a warning to all Americans remaining in Russia that they should seek to leave immediately.
Photographer Nathan Crane, who is friends with Brown, said he had not heard from him since before the invasion last week.
“I was in contact with him last week about it and he is aware that it will probably happen, although I’m not sure how extensive his knowledge is about it at the moment.
“I have not received a response from him since the last letter, which makes me wonder if the Russian side is holding letters from them so that they do not learn more about the atrocities taking place in Ukraine.
“This is my personal opinion, but I have no idea,” he told DailyMail.com on Wednesday.
He is among those who hope NASA will suspend the program and bring the crew out of Russia while they can still catch flights.
“I know NASA and the program are trying to stay apolitical, but I think (and I hope) the program will be stopped. I don’t know what will happen, “he said.
Kowalski, right, with Russian Victoria Kirichenko, right, and Emirati Saleh Al Ameri, left. All their social media accounts are managed by friends who have access to the information on the server and share it with the outside world
The crew inside the capsule on New Year’s Eve. Brown’s friends say his last letter was before Putin began his invasion
NASA simulation capsule layout shows where the group will spend their time in the eight-month challenge
The purpose of the experiment is to trace as closely as possible what are the long-term effects on the health of astronauts from space travel
Close-up of a NASA brochure shows the fitness area where the group participates in physical tests to monitor their health
Another space inside the NASA capsule. NASA will not comment on how much the group knows or whether the experiment will continue
Koulaski, 32, previously worked for the California Aerospace Corporation, and Brown, 36, has experience in “military, defense contracts, health consulting, software engineering and logistics.”
They are joined in the capsule by Russians Oleg Blinov, the commander, Victoria Kirichenko, Ekaterina Karyakina and Saleh Al Ameri of the United Arab Emirates.
All were selected following a process of scrutiny by NASA, in coordination with the IMBP – Russia’s State Research Center.
Until last week, when Putin invaded Ukraine, IMBP’s social media pages were constantly updated with photos of the international crew in the capsule.
The State Department is now advising all US citizens who are still in Russia to exit “immediately through still available trading options”
The crew enjoyed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year along with specially prepared dishes from international chefs.
The photos were uploaded to the server and then distributed around the world.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a total invasion of Ukraine last week
The crew members’ social media accounts are now managed by their close families and friends.
The capsule is housed in a Soviet-era building “on the outskirts of Moscow” and according to a profile in Foreign policy last year, the goal of the experiment was to mimic as closely as possible what the real space experience is for astronauts.
The group will undergo daily tests to measure how their bodies and minds cope with isolation and physical limitations.
Putin launched his attack on Ukraine on February 24 and shows no signs of slowing down.
As the fighting in Ukraine continues, relations between Russia and the rest of the world are deteriorating.
On Wednesday night, President Biden used his address on the state of the Union to criticize Putin and his incitement to war.
He has now joined the EU in closing the airspace to Russian planes. As a result, flights outside Russia are declining.
Biden has also imposed harsh sanctions on Russia to cut it off economically, and US companies interested in Russia are withdrawing money from the country.
On Tuesday, it was reported that Biden administration officials had also warned US companies that any of their employees in Russia could also be taken hostage.