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Vice President Al Gore meets with Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, December 1993, Boris Yurchenko/AP Photo


The United States wanted to cut the ISS's astronomical budget,
while Russia wanted to improve its economy. Due to the increasingly
difficult economic situation, Russia tried to resolve the problem by selling its space technology and weapons to other countries.
In the Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission,the United States and Russia
used the ISS to solve a long list of tensions between the two countries,
​​​​​​​from nuclear non-proliferation ​​​​​​​to oil agreements and space policy.
​​​​​​​

The ISS estimated cost was reduced
from $30 billion in 1991
​​​​​​​ to $17.4 billion in 1993.

Marcia Smith, NASA’s Space Station Program: Evolution and Current Status, 
April 2001, Congressional Research Service

NASA has paid Russia
​​​​​​​ more than ​​​​​​​$3.36 billion over 12 years.

How much NASA is Paying Russia to send Astronauts into Space, 
January 18, 2017, ​​​​​the Business Insider

  The United States gained new technology and leadership in space development, which they had lacked.

U.S.- Russian Joint Commission on Economic and Technological Cooperation,
June 23, 1994, ​​​​​​​Clinton Presidential Libraries

 Russia received $400 million ​​​​​​​and was able to continue the Mir program,
which was about to be halted
due to lack of funds.

Vice President's Statement to the Press at the Signing Ceremony with Russian Prime Minister Chernomyrdin, June 23, 1994, Clinton Digital Library

Russia agreed to stop selling
ballistic missile technology
​​​​​​​ to third-world countries.

Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000, 2000, Congress

Russia would also gain access
to profitable international markets
​​​​​​​to launch commercial satellites.

Guidelines for U.S. Implementation of the Agreement Between the U.S. and Russian Federation Government Regarding International Trade in Commercial Space Launch Services, Vol.59, No 47, pp.11360, 1994, Federal Register

Stop Russia from selling
missiles, rockets, and prevent
​​​​​​​nuclear proliferation.

USA - American-Russian Bi-Lateral Agreement Signed, June 24, 1994, AP Archive

Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Russian Federation Concerning the Shutdown of Plutonium Production Reactors and the Cessation of Use of Newly Produced Plutonium for Nuclear Weapons, 1994, Fissile Materials 

Growth in Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Membership by Year, 
​​​​​​​ April 2018, The Arms Control Association

A fund was created
by the United States and Russia
to encourage private American companies ​​​​to invest in Russia.

Agis Salpukas, Texaco Gets Aid to Invest In Russia,
​​​​​​​September 3, 1993, NY Times

Fact Sheet: Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission, Vol. 5, No 6, July 1994, U.S. Department of State Dispatch Supplement

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