Russian astronauts have worked alongside counterparts from the US and 16 other countries over the past two decades. However, deepening tensions between Moscow and Washington have strained relations both on Earth and in space, with the countries disagreeing on key topics such as cyberattacks and human rights. Unlike the ISS, the proposed Russian station would not be permanently staffed with crew due to its orbit path experiencing higher radiation. Russia has proposed spending up to $6 billion to launch the project.