into orbit

treaty signing ("President Bush and Russian President Boris Yeltsin sign the Start II Treaty at a Ceremony in Vladimir Hall, The Kremlin in Moscow, Russia") 1993

Boris Yeltsin and George H.W. Bush on the South Lawn of the White House("George H. W. Bush Remembered as Space Visionary")2018

The collapse of the Soviet Union left the Russians scrambling for stability through alliances, and the ISS was the perfect opportunity.

"Meeting at Camp David in February 1992, Yeltsin pressed Bush to declare that America and Russia were now allies rather than using the more ambiguous phrase “friendship and partnership.” Bush demurred, saying “We are using this transitional language because we don’t want to act like all our problems are solved.” (“A Realistic Reset with Russia”) However, this meeting marked a new beginning for the U.S. and Russian alliance.

"Article VII
This Agreement shall enter into force upon signature by the Parties and shall remain in force for five years. It may be extended for further five-year periods by an exchange of diplomatic notes. This Agreement may be terminated by either Party on six months written notice, through the diplomatic channel, to the other Party."("RUSSIAN FEDERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION CONCERNING COOPERATION IN THE EXPLORATION AND USE OF OUTER SPACE FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES (Signed at Washington D.C. on June 17, 1992, Proclaimed on June 17, 1992)")

Signed on June 17, 1992, by Presidents Bush and Boris Yeltsin, the Agreement Concerned cooperation in Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes.

In 1993, Russia joined the program Where in a revolutionary example of post-Cold War collaboration, it offered its mir-2 station as part of the space station Freedom.

"Mir space station" - (Harland)2025

“International Space Station Assembly.”-( Digitalized Archives.)

"MIR 19 Mission Commander Anatoly Y. Solovyev." 2017

In late 1993, the Shuttle-Mir Program ,Программа «Мир»–«Шаттл», kicked off. This cooperation allowed American astronauts to use the Russian Mir Station for tasks such as adapting to long-duration spaceflight, testing life support systems, and planning in-flight construction(“Shuttle-Mir.”).

On November 20, 1998, Russia launched Project Zarya, the first International Space Station Module. This gave it the power, control, and navigation needed to properly sustain the laboratory in space.(“Zarya Module.”). Just one month later, NASA launched the Space Shuttle Endeavour on the STS-88 Mission, which attached to the Russian Zarya module—the first time they were ever connected in space.

Zarya ISS Module (“Zarya ISS Module") 2023

“Launch of Mission STS-96.”-("Canadian Space agency.") 2025

The revolutionary innovations of the space station continued in 1999, when NASA’s STS-96 mission resupplied the ISS with necessary items, including food, tools, and other equipment. NASA’s STS-96 also launched STARSHINE-1, ”The small probe became instantly visible from Earth as part of a project allowing more than 25,000 students from 18 countries to track its progress”. This allowed thousands of students to learn about air drag and many solar and orbital effects.(“STS-96”).

In 2000, Russia launched the module Zvezda, which added many aspects needed for living over 200 miles above Earth, such as life support systems, control areas, and basic human needs like toilets and living areas.(“Zvezda Service Module.”).Finally, on Nov 2, 2000, space craft Expedition 1 brought William Shepard(NASA) and Sergei Krikalev & Yuri Gidzenko (Roscosmos). This was the first time a permanent crew arrived at the ISS, revolutionizing human presence in space.(“Expedition 1.”). Crews from around the world cooperated to conduct hundreds of experiments in biology, physics, medicine, environmental science, and other important research.

"Zarya Iss Module"-(“Zarya ISS Module | When was the ISS launched | Zarya Module | ISS Zarya.”) 2023