Talks are to begin in the new year about the future of the International Space Station 2024. The Russian space agency Roskosmos announced this to the German press agency in Moscow. Russia will be consulting with the US space agency NASA and other partners. “The extension of the operating time depends on both technical and political issues that are discussed with the partners,” it said. It is being discussed whether the ISS will remain in space until 2028 or 2030.

Further fate of the ISS not decided Vice Prime Minister Yuri Borissow told state television that he was with expect a decision in the first quarter. “The fate of the ISS has not yet been decided.”

The plans for the billion-dollar project are initially up to 2024. The discussion about an extension also involves the question of whether the technical condition and wear and tear allow an extension at all. Most recently, the station hit the headlines because of air leaks and technical problems. According to Roskosmos, the technical condition is regularly monitored.

On 20. November 1998 the first Russian module “Zarya” (Dawn) was launched into space. Since then, the ISS has continued to grow and is now about the size of a soccer field and technically diverse. In November 2000 Bill Shepherd, Juri Gidsenko and Sergej Krikaljow, the first long-term occupation, reached the human outpost.

(mho)