Together in Orbit: The Origins of International Participation in the Space Station

On January 25, 1984, in his annual State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, President Ronald Reagan announced that "tonight, I am directing NASA to develop a permanently manned space station and to do it within the decade." A few moments later, he added: "We want our friends to help us meet these challenges and share in their benefits. NASA will invite other countries to participate so we can strengthen peace, build prosperity, and expand freedom for all who share our goal...