Russian Cosmonaut Allegedly Photographed Confidential SpaceX Docs, Removed From NASA Crew-12 Mission

Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev has been removed from the prime crew of SpaceX’s Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station and replaced by fellow Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev after sources alleged he photographed confidential SpaceX materials in California in violation of US export control rules, according to The Insider on December 2.

The outlet reported that Trishkin also said NASA did not want the controversy around Artemyev to become public, while Artemyev was removed from training at SpaceX’s Hawthorne California, facility last week after allegedly photographing SpaceX engines and other internal materials on his phone and taking them off-site.

The Insider noted that the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center’s  website now lists Fedyaev in the main Crew-12 lineup, and separate reporting citing a Roscosmos statement said the state corporation officially described the replacement as being made “in connection with [Artemyev’s] transfer to another job,” without mentioning the ITAR-related  allegations.

The Insider also reported that the Crew-12 mission aboard a Crew Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to launch on February 15, 2026, carrying up to four crew members to the International Space Station under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and a seat-swap arrangement with Roscosmos.

Citing data from the Gagarin center, the outlet said 54-year-old Artemyev has completed three spaceflights and spent a total of 560 days in orbit, and that since 2019, he has served as a Moscow City Duma deputy from the ruling United Russia party. 

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The report emphasized that SpaceX and NASA have not publicly commented on the reported investigation, noting that ITAR violations can carry significant legal and diplomatic consequences for foreign nationals who gain unauthorized access to sensitive US space and defense technologies.

Earlier, it was reported that Russia is building an arsenal of space weapons, including the Nudol anti-satellite missile system, that could threaten SpaceX’s Starlink constellation and even endanger the International Space Station, according to expert assessments.

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