Mankind has their outpost for another ten years. Until at least 2024, the operators countries want to leave the International Space Station in orbit. At the latest in 2028 goes to the ISS but finally off the light.
The U.S. space agency NASA extended the use of the International Space Station ( ISS) for four years until 2024. This was announced by the Commissioner for the Human Spaceflight Nasa Manager William Gerstenmaier . Besides the U.S. , eleven European countries involved in the station , including Germany , Russia, Canada, Japan and Brazil. The ISS orbits about 350 miles above the Earth.
The decision was discussed with the international partners , emphasized Gerstenmaier . Technically, the ISS was even until 2028 operational. The cost of operating the ISS amount , according to NASA to about three billion dollars ( 2.2 billion euros ) per year. NASA spokesman David Weaver referred to the considerable scientific benefits of the ISS , which could now be further exploited .
The German Aerospace Center (DLR ) welcomed the move . ” The opportunity to conduct research in Earth orbit by 2024 , opening up new prospects , particularly with regard to a potentially commercial use , but also for the space transportation ,” the DLR Executive Board Chairman Johann -Dietrich Wörner said on Thursday .
International Space Station:German astronaut to be launched to the ISS in May
Construction of the ISS began in 1998, since the end of 2000 researching astronauts on the human outpost in space. The station is about a hundred meters long, almost 30 meters deep and weighs about 450 tons without loads. It is run by a changing international crew, composed each of six astronauts. In May, the German astronaut Alexander Gerst to leave aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket from the spaceport in Baikonur to the International Space Station.
Even for private space travel is the prolonged use of the ISS good news, Gerstenmaier said. NASA had in 2011 her shuttle program set and therefore no longer has its own space fleet. Because of the high costs, the U.S. government continues to increase its focus on private providers. In addition, the ISS is of great importance in order to prepare astronauts on long expeditions in space, he said, referring to possible missions to explore
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