This still doesn't quite gel for me, but call it progress!

[Omaroo]

I still have a problem with the concept of American astronauts flying around in Soyuz capsules - in a commanding capacity, no less. LOL! I guess that the ISS has really opened up relations between the two old superpowers to a new level. Given that the shuttle program is ending I guess we'll see more of it until Orion is ready to roll.

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_1325.html

[Robh]

The International Space Station involves US, Russia, Japan, Canada and several European nations.
Maybe the scientific community is breaking down the political barriers.
Spreading the cost around is probably a big incentive.
I think China wants to get involved as well.
Regards, Rob

[Omaroo]

Yep - never in question.

The point was that Russia and USA were THE rivals. I grew up through the Cold War era and was born during the week that the Cuban Missile Crisis came to a head. This is the closest the world had or has yet come to all-out nuclear war.

I think we've come a looooooooooong way from 1962. You're right - if the Chinese come in it'll be hugs all around.

[astroron]

It's about time the Russians found a more dignified way of returning to Earth, than landing like a bag of turds on the end of a parachute in the middle of the Russian stepps.:screwy:
It looks like the way of the future unless the shuttle gets a new lease of life:sadeyes:

[MikeyB]

In another surprising example of superpower co-operation, the US Atlas V rocket (which has a family history going back to Cold War-era Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs)), uses a Russian-designed and built first-stage engine. As a result, a number of US military satellites have been launched using Russian technology! For more details, see the Wikipedia links below:

Atlas rocket family (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_rocket)

Atlas V (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_V)

Atlas V launches (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Atlas_V_launches)