Russian space officials have suggested standardizing the systems of new spaceships so crews could come to each other's aid, local media reported Thursday.
Igor Zatula, press officer for Roskosmos, told the ITAR-TASS news agency the Russian space agency had proposed earlier that the country cooperate with the United States to develop compatible space systems.
Anatoly Perminov, head of Roskosmos, told ITAR-TASS that Russian and U.S. spaceships should be made fully compatible and mutually replaceable at all main stages of space flights.
With such changes, Russian and U.S. spaceships could dock with each other for crew transfers, mutual refueling and rescue missions if one country's spaceship was distress, Peminov said.
At present, both countries' spacecraft are incompatible except for their ability to dock at the International Space Station.
