The International
Space Station, A Test-Bed For Future Space Exploration
(17 July 2008) The Heads of the International Space Station (ISS) Agencies from Canada, Europe, Japan, Russia and the United States met today at ESA Headquarters in Paris, France, to review ISS co-operation.
Backdropped by the darkness of space, the International Space Station is seen from Space Shuttle Discovery as the two spacecraft begin their relative separation. Earlier the STS-124 and Expedition 17 crews concluded almost nine days of cooperative work on board the Shuttle and Station. (11 June 2008) (courtesy: NASA/JSC)
As part of their discussions, they noted the significantly expanded capability the ISS now provides for on-orbit research and technology development activities and as an engineering test-bed for flight systems and operations critical to future space exploration initiatives. These activities improve the quality of life on Earth by expanding the frontiers of human knowledge.
The ISS Heads of Agency meet at ESA Headquarters, Paris (17 July 2008) From left to right: Guy Bujold, CSA President; Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA Director General; Mike Griffin, NASA Administrator; Anatoli Preminov, Roscosmos Director; Keiji Tachikawa, JAXA President (courtesy: ESA - S. Corvaja)
The Heads of Agency also noted the Partners'
significant accomplishments since their last meeting in January 2007, including
the delivery of Node 2 (Harmony), two new laboratories (the ESA Columbus Module
and the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo), and Dextre, Canada's two-armed
special purpose dextrous manipulator.
In addition to the completion of
six challenging ISS assembly missions with the U.S. Space Shuttle, the Heads of
Agency recognised the successful maiden flight of the European Automated
Transfer Vehicle, the establishment of the global ISS ground operation control
centre network with the addition of new European and Japanese ISS operations
centres and the successful flights of Russian Soyuz and Progress vehicles. The
Partners emphasised the critical importance of expanded operations of Russian
Soyuz and Progress vehicles for ISS total crew transportation, rescue and cargo
delivery.
ESA astronaut Hans Schlegel, STS-122 mission specialist, continues work aimed toward readying the European Columbus laboratory for duty aboard the International Space Station. A pictorial guidebook assists the astronaut in installing the lab's experiment racks. (courtesy: NASA)
The Heads of Agency reviewed current ISS
development, configuration and operations activities across the partnership.
They considered implementing plans to maximise the benefits from the increase
to a six-person crew in 2009 and discussed efforts to ensure that essential
space transportation capabilities (both crew and cargo) will be available
across the partnership for the life of the programme. The Partners acknowledged
the need for the additional Russian modules to be provided in 2009 and 2010
that will maximise six-person ISS operations and utilisation.
The Heads
of Agency discussed their respective ongoing activities to enhance upmass and
downmass transportation capabilities required for a robust utilisation of the
ISS and to prepare capabilities for the future. These include Japan's H-2
Transfer Vehicle in the coming year, the U.S. Commercial Orbital Transportation
Services and the U.S. Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle; together with the current
operational vehicles, the U.S. Shuttle (up to 2010), Russian Soyuz and
Progress, and ESA ATV. These capabilities will respond to the ISS operations
and utilisation requirements.
Backdropped by the airglow of Earth's horizon and the blackness of space, the Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) approaches the International Space Station on Monday 31 March 2008, for its Demonstration Day 2 practice maneouvers. (courtesy: NASA)
They also noted new initiatives such as the
ESA plan for an Automated Transfer Vehicle-Advanced Return Vehicle system for
downmass from the ISS and the Russia-ESA joint preparatory activities on an
advanced Crew Space Transportation System. The Heads of Agency expressed their
interest in making these capacities available for the benefit of the whole
partnership and can provide ISS sustainability and prepare for future
exploration endeavours.
As the partnership moves closer to completion of
ISS assembly, the Heads of Agency reaffirmed their common interest in utilising
the space station to its full capacity for a period meaningful for stakeholders
and users. The Partners noted that a continuation of operations beyond 2015
would not be precluded by any significant technical challenges. Recognising the
substantial programmatic benefits to continued ISS operations and utilisation
beyond the current planning horizon, the Heads of Agency committed to work with
their respective governments to assess support for such a goal.
(source:
ESA)
