Space Station for the last shuttle crew in July 2011. Long 109 meters for a weight of 420 tonnes, the ISS is four times larger than the old Russian space station Mir, and about five times larger than the U.S. Skylab 1970s. © Nasa
ISS: Survive until 2024 – 2 Photos
After the green light from Congress, NASA has announced the extension of the life of the International Space Station until at least 2024, or 2028, as implied by William Gerstenmaier , Deputy Administrator of NASA for manned exploration, which emphasizes that the ISS can technically last until that date.
This announcement does not surprise us. In July 2011 already, Futura-Sciences explained why the ISS will not deorbited in 2020 as originally planned. Today, NASA justifies its decision by its willingness to densify the scientific return relating to its use, to broaden the base of its institutional and private users, use it as a bench test technology and especially to prepare some next stages of space exploration. Finally, it was very surprising that NASA is funding the development of a transportation system for manned private that it is no destination to reach.
International Space Station is seen in profile. It remained in service until 2024 at least. © Nasa
only downside to this decision, controlled Space Station obsolescence. You should know that the first modules were launched in 1998! Although crews that follow are not at risk, the station begins to show clear signs of aging. Failures are closer to, and some are very serious. During the Christmas season, two astronauts out in space twice to repair the cooling station.
The issue of funding the ISS
In Europe, this decision NASA is welcomed. The spokesman for the European Space Agency, Franco Bonacina, is “welcomes this decision” , but is cautious. Indeed, this increased lifespan of the ISS is not free. Partners will find some three billion needed for its operation and maintenance each year. If we look at the current conditions for the period 2020-2024, the European Space Agency will have to find about $ 600 million to fund its participation in the program.
For ESA, it will not be simple. The agency has not yet received all the funds necessary to finance its participation in the ISS for the period 2017-2020. “Decisions are expected on this subject” at the session of the Council of ESA at ministerial level meeting in Luxembourg, at the end of the year. Then, and for the period 2020-2024, there will be time ‘reflection on the shape of our part in the operation of the ISS’ .
So far, funding for the use of the station was under the barter element , a system developed by the partners of the ISS where each finance its share of the use of the station by providing a service the same amount as its contribution. 2017, ESA will pay its expenses with the missions of the ATC, with the last one, the ATC-5 will be launched in June. For the period 2017-2020, ESA will fulfill its “rent” from NASA funding to the tune of € 450 million development of the service module of the future space exploration vehicle for NASA.
Mars away
From the perspective of an astronaut, namely Clervoy we contacted, the extension of the life of the ISS is obviously “good news “, knowing that no other destination manned exploration will be reached on the date originally scheduled for the orbiting station or 2020. This allows “maintain continuous human presence in space as part of an international partnership for knowledge” . Finally, this decision is not devoid of ulterior political motives. Indeed, as pointed Clervoy, it increases “chance to attend before the end of life of the station in a joint mission between the ISS partners and China” who could use the module Tiangong-2.
However, this decision can only postpone indefinitely the next big international project of manned exploration of Mars. Budgets being what they are in a context of generalized deficit reduction, space agencies can not afford to fund the International Space Station and to engage in a major new international project of more than 100 billion dollars.
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