What twists and turns politics take.

It is generally conceded the ISS was conceived by Reagan as a PR counter to the Mir flown by the Evil Empire. The Shuttle was sold as a cheap and easy way to supply the ISS. America would have a lock on both - a huge space station and a re-useable way to get there and back.

Now, due to the vagaries of politics, economics and policies, Russia is the dominant party, if for no other reason than the Russians control access to the ISS. Very shortly, if the US wants to send anything there or bring anything back, it will have to purchase room on a Russian vehicle. When the service life of the ISS is over for America, the Russians may opt to keep their parts going.

I happen to believe the best space programs will be cooperative ventures, that maybe the days of the US and Russia duplicating efforts are behind us. And Man's efforts in space have given us an opportunity to learn something here, something more than technology. If Ronnie could have any idea as to what happened to his dream he'd be appalled.

Arf