While the United States and Russia traded sanctions this week ( 22 March
2014) in a burgeoning crisis over Crimea, astronauts from both nations rose
above the discord in their sanctuary hundreds of miles from Earth.
Experts say mounting political and economic tensions between the old
Cold War foes are unlikely to upset cooperation in space at the moment. But is
something which would be damaging to both sides.
Not that talking politics is taboo aboard the International Space Station (ISS), where Americans and
Russians share close quarters, orbiting at an altitude of 248 miles (400
kilometers) over the Earth.
"We could talk about anything. We'd talk about politics," said
retired US astronaut Leroy Chiao, who
commanded the ISS for six months in 2004 and 2005.
"With something like this going on, I am sure the crew is talking
about it, you know, in a friendly way."
American astronaut Mike Hopkins, upon returning from the ISS earlier
this month after a half-year stay, said he considered his Russian counterparts
"close friends" and described cooperation as "very strong." But the real conditions to live up there is not easy.
"It is like a divorced couple trying to live in the same
house," he said. They both own the house. They both operate the
house." ( AFP 22 Mar 2012)
While the United States and Russia traded sanctions this week ( 22 March
2014) in a burgeoning crisis over Crimea, astronauts from both nations rose
above the discord in their sanctuary hundreds of miles from Earth.
Experts say mounting political and economic tensions between the old
Cold War foes are unlikely to upset cooperation in space at the moment. But is
something which would be damaging to both sides.
Not that talking politics is taboo aboard the International Space Station (ISS), where Americans and
Russians share close quarters, orbiting at an altitude of 248 miles (400
kilometers) over the Earth.
"We could talk about anything. We'd talk about politics," said
retired US astronaut Leroy Chiao, who
commanded the ISS for six months in 2004 and 2005.
"With something like this going on, I am sure the crew is talking
about it, you know, in a friendly way."
American astronaut Mike Hopkins, upon returning from the ISS earlier
this month after a half-year stay, said he considered his Russian counterparts
"close friends" and described cooperation as "very strong." But the real conditions to live up there is not easy.
"It is like a divorced couple trying to live in the same
house," he said. They both own the house. They both operate the
house." ( AFP 22 Mar 2012)