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Artist's impression of the International Space
Station
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6 December
2002
ESA PR 77-2002. Space agency leaders from the United
States, Europe, Canada, Japan and Russia met today in Tokyo, Japan, to
review and further promote International Space Station (ISS)
cooperation.
The meeting participants reviewed in detail the
significant progress that has been made in the development and deployment
of the ISS elements and in the implementation of the ISS Program Action
Plan adopted at the last Heads of Agency meeting in June 2002. This Plan
provided the framework for the Partnership’s efforts over the last six
months to select an option path to meet the utilization and resource
requirements of the ISS.
At this meeting, the participants unanimously endorsed an option path
that enables maximised ISS utilization in the 2006/2007 timeframe through
greater use of ISS research elements. The implementation of an expanded
scientific program on ISS would be supported by phased growth of ISS
capabilities, significantly increased quantity of permanent crew, with
crew rescue initially provided by additional Soyuz crew rescue vehicles
and eventually by both Soyuz and Orbital Space Plane. Additional Space
shuttle, and other vehicle support would also enhance this unique on-orbit
research facility.
The participants also agreed upon a process for selecting an ISS
configuration beyond the accommodation of the remaining International
Partner elements. This process includes further technical and programmatic
assessment, cost estimation, and internal budgetary reviews by each
partner. It will lead to approval of a configuration option recommendation
in March 2003, the selection of a revised ISS configuration option by
June/July 2003, and agreement on a configuration by December 2003.
The Partners noted with great enthusiasm the continuing success of ISS
assembly activities and confirmed that development of the remaining ISS
elements is proceeding as planned. They look forward to successful
accommodation of key ISS partner elements by February 2004 that will allow
the accommodation of remaining partner ISS utilization and infrastructure
elements. This will enable improved scientific and technological
capabilities in the 2006/2007 timeframe.
They also highlighted the third year of permanent human presence and
research on board the ISS and the recent successful launch of the ISS
Expedition Six crew. This crew will concentrate on assembly tasks and the
conduct of essential scientific research on behalf of all of the ISS
Partners to improve life on Earth while exploring the frontier of space.
The Partners look forward to increasing tangible benefits of this
unprecedented international cooperation as the Partnership proceeds with
assembly, and increased utilization of, this world-class research
facility.
For further information, please contact:
Franco Bonacina
ESA Media Relations Service
Tel:
+33(0)1.53.69.7155
Fax : +33(0)1.53.69.7690
