The U.S. Congress has finally permitted NASA to make payments to the Russian Space Agency.
After eight years of negotiations U.S. federal laws, which banned NASA from cooperating with Russia, have finally been amended. The new deal will secure mutual dependence of the two countries in space exploration. It will make possible the joint use of the International Space Station and the U.S. will be able to access to the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The ban was initially imposed because of Russia's links with Iran in the field of Rocket Technology.