Heads Of Agency
International Space Station Joint Statement
(17 July 2008) The heads of the
International Space Station (ISS) agencies from Canada, Europe, Japan, Russia
and the United States met at European Space Agency (ESA) Headquarters in Paris
on July 17, 2008, to review ISS co-operation.
As part of their
discussions, they noted the significantly expanded capability that the ISS now
provides for on-orbit research and technology development activities and as an
engineering test bed for flight systems and operations that are critical to
future space exploration initiatives. These activities improve the quality of
life on Earth by expanding the frontiers of human knowledge.
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 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.
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 program. 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 for preparing capabilities for the
future. These include Japan's H-2 Transfer Vehicle in the next 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 Automated Transfer Vehicle. These
capabilities will respond to the ISS operations and utilisation requirements.
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 sustainability of the ISS 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:
NASA)
