International Partners Discuss Space Station Operations

WASHINGTON -- The International Space Station partner agencies met
Thursday, Feb. 3, by videoconference to discuss coordinating the
increased use of the space station as a research laboratory. The
agencies want to continue using the station as a test-bed for
exploration and find innovative ways to reduce costs while increasing use.

The Multilateral Coordination Board (MCB) meeting included senior
representatives from NASA; the Canadian Space Agency (CSA); the
European Space Agency (ESA); the Russian Federal Space Agency
(Roscosmos); and the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology (MEXT). As the senior management board, the
MCB meets periodically to ensure coordination of station operations
and activities among the partners.

The MCB reaffirmed its commitment to reduce operational costs, develop
an integrated transportation plan and maximize return by increasing
research aboard the station while developing techniques for future
exploration outside Earth's orbit.

The MCB members reviewed ongoing international use of the station as a
laboratory for scientific research, technology development and
testing and educational activities. In the six months between March
and September 2010, the five partner agencies have provided 195
research opportunities on the orbiting outpost for 385 investigators
from 29 countries. Increasing the station's use as a unique
laboratory is of paramount importance to the international partners.
The International Space Station has proven to be an important
platform for research in biology and biotechnology, Earth and space
science, human physiology, physical science, technology development
and education.

The partners also renewed their commitment to use station resources
and observation capability to assist in humanitarian needs such as
aiding in disaster recovery, tracking oil spills and monitoring climate change.

All of the partners also recognize the station's role in inspiring
students around the world to learn about science, technology,
engineering and mathematics. More than 30 million students have
participated in human spaceflight through communications downlinks
and interactive experiments with station astronauts.

The governments of Japan and the Russian Federation have approved
continued ISS operations beyond 2016. The NASA Authorization Act of
2010 extended operations until at least 2020. ESA and CSA are working
with their respective governments to reach consensus about the
continuation of the station.

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

For more information about the CSA, visit:

http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng

For more information about the ESA, visit:

http://www.esa.int/spaceflight

For more information about Roscosmos, visit:

http://www.federalspace.ru

For more information about MEXT, visit:

http://www.mext.go.jp/english

Source: NASA

---