How a handshake in orbit enabled the International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) represents an extraordinary accomplishment in the fields of engineering and global partnership. Hovering several hundred kilometers above our planet, this space-based research center embodies peaceful collaboration among countries previously separated by competition and geopolitical strains. However, beneath the striking visuals of astronauts operating in weightlessness, there exists a narrative founded on a significant event—a historic handshake in space that contributed to establishing the ISS in its current form.The concept of a space station shared by multiple countries was once a distant dream, challenged by geopolitical competition, technological hurdles, and budget constraints. During the Cold War,…
