White House directs NASA to extend International Space Station operations through 2030
NASA administrator Bill Nelson has been directed to work with NASA’s partners, including the European Space Agency (ESA), Canadian Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Russia’s Roscosmos, to enable the
ISS’ use throughout the rest of this decade. “I’m pleased that the Biden-Harris administration has committed to continuing station operations through 2030,” said Nelson. “The ISS is a beacon of peaceful international scientific collaboration and for more than 20 years has returned enormous scientific, educational and technological developments to benefit humanity.”
NASA has been seeking ways to hand over its day-to-day operations of the space station to commercial entities in order to free up appropriations for its Artemis program of crewed lunar exploration. “The US’ continued participation will enhance innovation and competitiveness, as well as advance the research and technology necessary to send the first woman and first person of colour to the Moon under NASA’s Artemis program and pave the way for sending the first humans to Mars,” said Nelson.
The extension will also provide more time to ensure a seamless handover of low-Earth orbit research and commercial activities from the
ISS to new private outposts. NASA has recently entered into agreements with companies to develop commercial space stations either as freeflying platforms or, as in one case, as a temporary extension to the ISS before separating on its own.