The International Space Station as viewed from the Space Shuttle. Photo Credit/NASA Photo
The European Space Agency has formally agreed to an extension of U. S.-led International Space Station operations until at least 2020, adding its commitment to those of the Russian federal space agency, Roscosmos, and the Japan Exploration Aerospace Agency, or JAXA, and NASA.
The Canadian Space Agency, the fourth major partner, is still deliberating, according to a statement from NASA, following a meeting of the ISS Multilateral Coordination Board on Wednesday.
A formal extension was initiated by NASA after President Obama and Congress agreed to suspend plans to end station operations at the end of 2015. The near-term end of operations was part of the previous administration’s plans to return human explorers to the moon as part of the Constellation Program. Constellation’s termination is unfolding.
The partner meeting also focused on expanded use of the space station for the development of technologies for future human deep space exploration missions.
European Space Agency astronaut Paolo Nespoli aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit/NASA Photo
Much of the current research sponsored by NASA, Russia and Canada aboard the orbiting science laboratory is dedicated to understanding human physical and psychological responses to the demands of long term space flight. Russian and Canadian experiments are also evaluating plant growth in weightlessness.
Recent European experiments are modeling the large scale convection processes that transfer heat through planetary bodies. A Japanese telescope has discovered new galactic X-ray sources that could add to an understanding of cosmic evolution.
The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a major physics experiment with participation from 16 nations, is scheduled to reach the station aboard the shuttle Endeavour. Endeavour’s launching is set for Friday. Findings from the AMS may also contribute to a better understanding of the origin and evolution of the universe.
The station’s partners are also deliberating on rendezvous and docking conventions as NASA’s shuttle program enters retirement. NASA is nurturing a commercial supply and crew transportation chain as a shuttle replacement.