Space Diplomacy: US and Russia Discuss Moon and ISS Cooperation

NASA and Russia's space agency engaged in rare talks at Kennedy Space Center, as the two space powers discussed potential collaboration on lunar missions and the International Space Station. This encounter marked the first face-to-face meeting between NASA's temporary leader, Sean Duffy, and Roscosmos chief, Dmitry Bakanov, since 2018.

This diplomatic engagement comes as European nations strive to lessen their dependence on U.S.-sourced scientific data. By bolstering their data collection capabilities, these countries aim to monitor climate change and weather extremes more independently, a shift attributed to the U.S. retreat from scientific research during the Trump administration.

As Europe's scientific autonomy grows, the continent's efforts reflect a broader attempt to establish a more self-reliant approach, showcasing the ever-evolving landscape of international scientific collaboration.

(With inputs from agencies.)