Date of First Commercial Space Station
MetaculusMAY 2024
US-Russia Space Cooperation Endures with ISS Mission Launch
Above: NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, left, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy seen in quarantine, behind glass, as they attend a press conference on April 7, 2025, at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Image copyright: Joel Kowsky/NASA/Handout/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Space exploration transcends political boundaries, maintaining a crucial bridge between nations even during challenging times, as evidenced by the successful continuation of the US-Russia space partnership that dates back to the historic 1975 Apollo-Soyuz mission. With potential future collaborations, such as Russian nuclear power solutions for SpaceX's Mars missions, space exploration should be seen as a powerful tool for international cooperation and peace.
Narrative B
Russia's space program faces significant challenges, including chronic underfunding, corruption scandals, and technical failures such as the Luna-25 probe crash. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has further isolated Russia from many of its international partners, compounding these issues. With the ISS set to retire in 2031, Moscow is pivoting toward independent space ventures and increasing cooperation with China. It's clear that space exploration isn't immune to Earth's political dynamics.