At least some cooperation: NASA and Roscosmos signed an agreement on cross-flights

Even given the strained relations between Russia and the United States, there are certain areas in which, without cooperation,

It will be difficult for both countries. And one of these zones is space. Thus, NASA and Roscosmos signed a long-awaited agreement to exchange seats on flights to the ISS. Discuss

After the end of the space shuttle programNASA has relied on Russian Soyuzs for years. to deliver astronauts to the orbital station. That was until SpaceX failed to certify the Crew Dragon ship for human spaceflight. Now NASA will have seats on the Soyuz, and Russian cosmonauts will fly on SpaceX Crew Dragon ships.

NASA also reported that the first cross-linksThe flights will take place in September, with Anna Kikina becoming the first Russian cosmonaut to fly on the Crew Dragon spacecraft. Meanwhile, NASA astronaut Frank Rubio will travel to the ISS on the Soyuz spacecraft. There will be no cash exchanges as part of the agreement, unlike in the past when NASA paid Roscosmos about $56 million per seat.