The stakeholders of the International Space Station have committed to extending the operations of this unique platform in low Earth orbit, where humans have lived and conducted cutting-edge science and research in microgravity for more than 22 years.
The United States, Japan, Canada, and ESA (European Space Agency) member states have verified they will support continued space station operations through 2030, while Russia has confirmed it will support continued station operations through 2028.
NASA will continue to collaborate with its partner agencies to assure a continuous presence in low Earth orbit and a secure and orderly future transition from the space station to commercial platforms.
NASA’s Artemis missions are permanently stationing scientists and explorers on the Moon.
Robyn Gatens, director of the International Space Station Division at NASA’s headquarters in Washington, described the International Space Station as a remarkable partnership with the aim of advancing science and exploration.
“By extending our time aboard this incredible platform, we will be able to reap the benefits of more than two decades of experiments and technological demonstrations, as well as continue to materialize future discoveries of even greater magnitude.”
Since its inception in 1998, 266 individuals from 20 nations have visited the International Space Station. Earth and space science, biology, human physiology, physical sciences, and technology demonstrations cannot be conducted on Earth but can be conducted aboard the International Space Station. More than 3,300 microgravity experiments are being conducted by tens of thousands of researchers on the ground with the assistance of the station’s personnel.
Now, in its third decade of operation, the station has reached the decade of results, during which it can maximize its scientific return. Results are accumulating, new benefits are materializing, and innovative research and technology demonstrations are advancing previous efforts.
The International Space Station represents one of the most intricate international collaborations ever attempted. It was designed to be interdependent, depends on contributions from across the partnership, and no partner can presently operate the space station without the other.