The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is typically thought of in national terms - as an American initiative developed specifically to compete with the Soviet Union. Yet, from its inception, NASA was mandated not only to sustain US leadership in space, but also to pursue international collaboration. Since that time, it has participated in over four thousand international projects. Drawing on unprecedented access to agency archives and personnel, this definitive study explores US-Soviet cooperation during the darkest days of the Cold War, relations with Western Europe, India, and Japan, the development of the International Space Station, and many other aspects of scientific and technological collaboration, making it a signal contribution to space studies and international diplomatic history.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is typically thought of in national terms - as an American initiative developed specifically to compete with the Soviet Union. Yet, from its inception, NASA was mandated not only to sustain US leadership in space, but also to pursue international collaboration. Since that time, it has participated in over four thousand international projects. Drawing on unprecedented access to agency archives and personnel, this definitive study explores US-Soviet cooperation during the darkest days of the Cold War, relations with Western Europe, India, and Japan, the development of the International Space Station, and many other aspects of scientific and technological collaboration, making it a signal contribution to space studies and international diplomatic history.