Boeing, the prime contractor, is trying to prove that the station’s components can hold up through at least 2028. Three years ago, Congress extended funding for the station through 2020, and NASA’s international partners — Russia, Japan, Canada and the European Space Agency — have made a similar commitment. But behind the scenes, NASA officials are working to persuade the White House to make a decision, pronto, to keep the orbital laboratory flying after 2020.
The alternative is to crash the massive structure into the South Pacific.
The decision needs to be made in 2014, said William Gerstenmaier, the top NASA official for human spaceflight.
Russia is talking of starting a second-generation space station on its own. China has launched two crews to its first space laboratory module, Tiangong 1, and plans to construct a 60-ton space station by 2020.
The odds are heavily against the continuation of the station post 2020. Japan or Europe are unlikely to contribute money for the ISS after 2020.
ISS annual operating costs are over $3 billion. Assuming no new additional costs extending the space from 2020 to 2028 would cost $24 billion.
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The alternative is to crash the massive structure into the South Pacific.
The decision needs to be made in 2014, said William Gerstenmaier, the top NASA official for human spaceflight.
Russia is talking of starting a second-generation space station on its own. China has launched two crews to its first space laboratory module, Tiangong 1, and plans to construct a 60-ton space station by 2020.
The odds are heavily against the continuation of the station post 2020. Japan or Europe are unlikely to contribute money for the ISS after 2020.
ISS annual operating costs are over $3 billion. Assuming no new additional costs extending the space from 2020 to 2028 would cost $24 billion.
Read more »
