International Space Station program

In late 1991 - early 1992, the Heads of Russian space companies and organizations invited the American colleagues to join efforts in the implementation of space programs. In mid-1992, NPO Energia developed a program for creating the next generation of the manned space station Mir-2. But Russia had not enough money for its construction. With Clinton administration’s rise to power, the issue of joint operations on orbital stations was discussed, and in the course of negotiations in March, 1993 in Seattle between the leaders of the NPO Energia and Boeing Company, the principal possibility of creating the International Space Station (ISS) using elements of unrealized program Mir-2 and Freedom was first considered.

On 2 September, 1993 Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, V.S. Chernomyrdin, and the Vice President of the USA, A. Gore, signed the “Joint Statement on Cooperation in Space”, foreseeing creation of joint International Space Station and a series of long-duration flights of the American astronauts on the Mir orbital station. It allowed in June 1994 to sign the contract between NASA and RSA “On the Deliveries and Services for the Mir station and the International Space Stationˮ.