U.S. Astronauts Granted Waiver for Access to ISS by Russian Shuttle

Relations between the US and Russia have always been tenuous; however, the general diversion of goals between the two countries has led to several rifts, with one of the more current ones concerning Russian provided space travel. According to a 3 October issue of Science, in response to accusations that Russia sold nuclear material to Iran, the U.S. imposed sanctions. The Iran, North Korea and Syria Nonproliferation Act, passed in 2000, prohibited any dealings with Russia, regarding the International Space Station (ISS). An unfortunate side-effect of this action was that NASA was prohibited from coordinating space travel efforts with Russia. This was particularly

important, since it is Russia that controls Soyuz, a shuttle which had been carrying Americans to the ISS.

Although NASA had obtained a waiver which allowed such collaborations, it was due to expire in 2011, less than three years away. This would have left Americans unable to reach the station, which would have been particularly frustrating since it is being slated for retirement in 2016. During this five year gap, the US would have had no way to reach or access the station, given that America’s Orion space craft isn’t expected to be ready for use until 2016. A positive result looked particularly bleak after the Russian-Georgian crisis, which strained the already fragile relationship between the US and Russia.

Fortunately, funding for this type of association was passed by the House, allowing NASA to continue its use of the Russian shuttle until 2016. The New York Times reported on 25 September that the bill, doling out $630 billion to keep the government afloat until

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