These missions allowed NASA and the Roskosmos to learn a great deal about how best to work with international partners in space and how to minimize the risks associated with assembling a large space station in orbit, as would have to be done with the ISS.
Disse missioner tillod NASA og den Russiske Føderale Rumorganisation at lære meget om, hvordan man bedst muligt samarbejder med internationale partnere i rummet, og om hvordan man minimerer risici ved at konstruere en stor rumstation — ISS — i rummet.