Reports of tension between Russian and American Astronauts on the International Space Station

[depakid]

It was supposed to be the final frontier, where the petty jealousies of Earth and other planetary concerns were left behind. But space is not the haven of international harmony it used to be.

Once upon a time astronauts on the international space station shared resources - food, equipment, facilities. But now a veteran Russian cosmonaut has complained that he is not even allowed to use his US colleagues' exercise bike - or their toilet.

According to Gennady Padalka, commercial squabbles on Earth are compromising morale in space. For seven glorious years after his first space mission in 1998 Colonel Padalka said he and his US astronauts had co-operated brilliantly. This changed in 2005 when missions were put on a commercial footing and Moscow started billing the US for sending its astronauts into orbit.

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"What is going on has an adverse effect on our work," Colonel Padalka, 50, was quoted before he and his crew mates blasted off to the international space station last Thursday. " it's politicians and bureaucrats who can't reach agreement, not us cosmonauts and astronauts."

More: http://www.smh.com.au/world/space-station-astronauts-fight-over-the-astroloos-20090331-9iac.html

[Ian David]

1. "Open the podbay doors, Gennady!" n/t