The Cold War’s frenzied race to record “firsts” in space may have been replaced by genteel cooperation, but Moscow is set to edge out the U.S. in becoming the first nation to send a national politician into space. Former Kremlin national security adviser Yuri Baturin will be blasted up to Mir on August 12 to take part in a research mission. That’s two months ahead of Senator John Glenn’s planned sojourn on the shuttle Discovery. As space travel for the political executive goes, Discovery easily has the edge over Mir for comfort and safety, but the Russian station can’t be beaten for bar service.