How the End of the Cold War Led to Birth of the International Space Station | Rewind the '90s

NARRATOR: Our story opens with revolution. After decades of cold war, the mighty Soviet empire is collapsing.

MAN: The wall is effectively down.

NARRATOR: Just weeks before the 90s begin, the most famous symbol of the political divide between east and west is toppled.

CHUNG: We as boomers lived under the threat of nuclear war. We lived with the Cold War. The Berlin Wall was the symbol of all of that.

CHUNG (over TV): Today was the beginning of the end of what they call the wall of shame.

CHUNG: It was a glorious moment. It was like a street party.

MAN (over TV): Until yesterday the wall was a symbol of Cold War fear and loathing. Tonight it's the scene for a celebration of freedom, peace and love.

NARRATOR: As political shock waves echo across Europe, the world watches as the Soviet super power collapses.

MAN (over TV): The exuberance, the delight, the passion, they are all tangible. 40 years of Stalinist oppression crumbling.

NARRATOR: And in December 1991, communist leader Mikhail Gorbachev declares the end of the Soviet Union. The Cold War, which sparked fears of global apocalypse, is over.

CLINTON: Russia's strategic nuclear missiles soon will no longer be pointed at the United States. Nor will we point ours at them. (applause)

NARRATOR: As lifelong enemies join forces, they open up bold new frontiers.

CLINTON: Instead of building weapons in space, Russian scientists will help us to build the International Space Station. (applause)

KURT: The space race had been part of the Cold War, especially in the early days it was all about we gotta get to the moon before the Soviets.

MAN (over TV): They've got the flag up, you can see the stars and stripes.

KURT: It made sense in a symbolic way to show that the old Cold War, including this ferocious space race, was done.

MAN: This is an historic moment that I'm just very excited. Mr. Kopchev I wanna give you a hug. (laughter, applause)

NARRATOR: With grand designs for a high tech future, construction starts on a project of cosmic scale and ambition.

BILL: The purpose of the ISS is to be a laboratory in space. It's the largest international cooperative science program that we've ever seen. 15 nations managed by five separate space agencies, all contributing to make this laboratory a reality.

NARRATOR: And as mission training begins in Moscow and Houston, for a launch that will herald the new millennium, humanity contemplates its destiny.

BILL: One of the biggest questions that the space station is trying to help answer is, is earth the only spot in the whole universe that we can reside or do we have the capacity to live and work elsewhere?