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ESA Calls for Using ISS Till 2020

Posted on: Friday, 23 May 2008, 06:00 CDT

The European Space Agency (ESA) backs Russia's proposal to extend the use of the International Space Station till 2020, head of the ESA permanent mission in Russia Christian Feichtinger told Interfax on Thursday.

The issue will be discussed at the next meeting of the heads of space agencies of countries involved in the ISS project, he said, adding that he hoped the proposal would get approval from all ISS partners.

Europe is seeking to gain maximum payoff from its contribution to the ISS project, Feichtinger said.

The European research module Columbus was attached to the ISS 5 years later that initially planned due to problems in the station's construction and its lifespan is to be prolonged, he said.

Columbus is a unique laboratory that can be used for experiments in zero gravity, Feichtinger said. He believes all sides will try to use the ISS infrastructure as long as possible.

In November 2007, head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos Anatoly Perminov called for extending the exploitation of the ISS from 2015 to 2020.

This is necessary because the buildup of the station's research potential took longer than previously thought due to the suspension of American shuttle flights after the Columbia tragedy in 2003, Perminov said.

Roscosmos hopes to coordinate the issue with its ISS partners - NASA, the European and Japanese space agencies, and Canada - during a meeting in July 2008.

Source: Daily News Bulletin; Moscow - English

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