Experts are of the belief that burgeoning crisis over Crimea between Russia and United States will not have any adverse implications on the cooperation from both the sides in space missions. Mounting political and economic tensions between the old Cold War foes are not likely to affect the affable relationship among Americans and Russians aboard the International Space Station (ISS), said experts.

"We could talk about anything. We'd talk about politics. With something like this going on, I am sure the crew is talking about it, you know, in a friendly way", said retired US astronaut Leroy Chiao, who commanded the ISS for six months in 2004 and 2005.

American astronaut Mike Hopkins, who returned from the ISS earlier this month after staying at the ISS for six months, said his Russian counterparts were close friends and cooperation from them was very strong.

Experts said the two lead nations in the 15-country collaboration must have to ensure their cooperation, which is significant for the future of the $100 billion space station.

Despite the fact that the Russian and US sections at the ISS have their own toilets and separate air-conditioning systems, Russian and US cooperation is much required for performing many complex operations at the football-field-sized orbiting outpost. The cooperation is required both in space and control centers from the ground.

The bulk of the yearly operating costs are being paid by NASA mission control in Houston for the effort it leads. A NASA spokesman said the United States needs Russia for transporting astronauts to the space station, for which the US space agency pays Russia an average of $70.7 million per seat.

The reliance for transportation on Russia emerged for NASA after the retirement of the US space shuttle program in 2011 left Americans without a vehicle for lifting crew to low-earth orbit.