Sure it does. This political context is highly relevant. Why do you think NASA is collaborating with ESA and ISRO but not China? Well, NASA is prohibited fro

Sure it does. This political context is highly relevant. Why do you think NASA is collaborating with ESA and ISRO but not China? Well, NASA is prohibited from bilateral projects with China due to a law passed by the US Congress in 2011: http://news.sciencemag.org/technology/2011/04/spending-bill-prohibits-u.s.-china-collaborations http://news.sciencemag.org/technology/2011/04/spending-bill-... And, as pointed out nearby, the relationship with Russia is not exactly peachy: http://www.space.com/26945-russian-holds-nasa-hostage-mike-griffin.html http://www.space.com/26945-russian-holds-nasa-hostage-mike-g... There are many reasons for this situation, so trying to reduce it to democracy vs. not has resulted in a lengthy and inconclusive exchange (seen nearby). But whatever the list of reasons, this international political context is highly relevant to the collaborations that are currently workable.