In 1998, the first pieces of the International Space Station (ISS) began taking shape above the Earth. It was far too large to take up at once. So, over the next ten plus years (and dozens of missions) it expanded piece by piece. From the very beginning it was a collaborative effort, especially between Russia and the United States. Over the years, that relationship has continued to flourish.

Despite whatever happened on the ground, the importance of progress in space surpassed all else. However, that idea is now being challenged, especially in light of the crisis in Ukraine. CCTV’s Sean Callebs reports.

Ukraine Casts its Shadow on U.S.-Russia Space Ties

Over the years, U.S.-Russia space relationship has continued to flourish. Despite whatever happened "on" the ground the importance of progress "in space" trumped all else. But that idea is now being challenged especially in light of Ukraine. CCTV's Sean Callebs has "Insight" into a relationship that extends beyond Planet Earth.

The U.S. Congress imposed a ban in 2011 on bilateral relations between NASA and China. CCTV’s Elaine Reyes interviews Taylor Wang, the first Chinese-born person to ever go into space, on this policy. Wang says the exclusion of China is “silly.”

Ex-Astronaut Opposes Chinese Exclusion Policy of NASA

U.S. Congress had outlawed space relationship with China. CCTV's Elaine Reyes interviews Taylor Wang, first Chinese-born person to ever go into space, on this policy.He says the exclusion of China is "silly."