Returned Crewmembers Deny Rumors Of Friction Onboard Station

Interviewed by reporters at Russia's cosmonaut training center outside of Moscow last week - just two days after their return to Earth from the International Space Station - American and Russian astronauts refuted the notion of squabbles in space.

The Associated Press reports the question was fueled by Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka's report of friction arising over access to food, water, toilets, and other equipment during training on Earth. Last month, Padalka told the Novaya Gazeta that such difficulties between Russian and American astronauts in training have hurt the morale of space station crews.

In Friday's interview with US astronaut Michael Fincke, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov, and American space tourist Charles Simonyi, the three denied having any problems cooperating in space.

"Please don't make a mistake. This is the best partnership that human beings have ever had. We're building the best space station that's ever been built. We're going to the stars together," Fincke told reporters. "So let's not let these little small things stop us from realizing this partnership we have together."

"It's called an international space station because people from different nationalities work there," Lonchakov said. "In space there are no politics. What's decided on Earth is decided on Earth. What we are working in space is completely different, we work things out differently."

Later this year, the ISS crew will be expanded from three to six persons, facilitated by an accelerated schedule of Soyuz missions to transport additional astronauts.

FMI: www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/