Cultures can collide amid international space endeavors

0 Comments | USA TODAY, August, 2007 | by Marilyn Elias

SAN FRANCISCO -- The French astronaut thought he would be considered a hero for bringing gourmet delicacies into space, but his Russian crewmate privately acknowledged that he could hardly wait to get back to borscht and black bread.

American astronaut Shannon Lucid flew with two Russian cosmonauts who, she says, left the shuttle for work outside and told her, "While we're away, you're in charge, but don't touch anything."

Space teams have become increasingly cross-national since the first such mission of Americans and Soviets in 1975. New reports on how crews from different cultures are getting along in space were presented at the American Psychological Association meeting Monday.

Many have had positive experiences, but being outnumbered by...