Monday, 15 June 2009
European, American and Japanese partners of Russia on the International Space Station may want the orbiter to continue its mission until at least 2025, the head of Russia's Space Agency said Monday.
"Partners from the European Space Agency have, for example, a strong desire to extend the station's flight terms, and they can be understood: the Columbus scientific lab is totally new... its resource will be not less than 10 years, and in reality the module could serve for 20 years," Anatoly Perminov said at the International Paris Air Show.
He said the Europeans and Japanese both have new science modules in or near operation, adding that Japan intends to build its own space cargo ship to fly to the ISS and therefore needs the station for at least 10 years.
"Further use of the ISS is also beneficial to American partners, at least until 2015," Perminov said.
"Everyone needs the station, and we support this attitude of our partners. The station will function until 2015 for sure... and probably even until 2025," he said.
