"There is open traffic between the US/ESA (European Space Agency) and Russian segments [of the ISS]," Marshburn said. "On weekends, we usually have a meal together [and] usually watch a movie together."
The astronauts and cosmonauts meet every day personally and continue to work and cooperate smoothly together, Marshburn said.
"We go over every day: [It is a] very collegial, very friendly relationship. We rely on each other for our survival. It is a dangerous environment: We are all up here for the same purpose - to explore and keep performing the science ... It has been a real pleasure working with our colleagues [the Russian cosmonauts]," he said.
The smooth cooperation was the continuation of a now almost 40 year history of US and Soviet/Russian human cooperation in space, Marshburn reminded his audience.