(Image credit: NASA)
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson revealed on Friday that Biden administration has pledged to extend ISS operations until 2030 & continue to work with international partners in Europe (ESA, European Space Agency), Japan (JAXA, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Canada (CSA, Canadian Space Agency) & Russia (State Space Corporation Roscosmos) for research activities.
“International Space Station (ISS) is a flagship of a peaceful international scientific collaboration and for more than 20 years has returned huge scientific, educational & technological developments to take advantage of humanity. I am pleased that the Biden Harris administration has made a commitment to continue operating the station until 2030, ”said Nelson.
“The continued United States participation on ISS will enhance innovation & competitiveness, as well as the research & technology needed to send the first woman and the first person of color to the moon as part of the Artemis program of the NASA and will pave the way for sending of the first human to Mars. As more nations are active in space, it is more important than ever for the United States to continue to lead the world through growing international alliances & to create rules & regulations for peaceful and responsible use of space.
NASA also revealed that over the past 20 years, the lab has hosted more than 3,000 research studies conducted by more than 4,200 researchers around the world, seeing 110 countries & area participating in activities aboard the station, including more than 1,500,000 students per year in STEM. activity. Some of this research includes the creation of a 5th state of matter in space & the exploration of micro gravity environments.
However, the ISS is not expected to last longer than 2030. When ISS finally retires by the end of the decade, NASA plans to save $1 billion, which could be spent on space missions. more distant towards the Moon. , on Mars, and beyond.
