The International Space Station in Space Exploration
- Paper number
IAC-06-B4.1.01
- Author
Mr. William Gerstenmaier, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United States
- Coauthor
Ms. Meredith McKay, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United States
- Year
2006
- Abstract
The strength of the International Space Station (ISS) partnership, the importance of international cooperation and the potential for future cooperation in space exploration demonstrate that the ISS Program has a vital role in space exploration. While the Shuttle was grounded, post-Columbia, the ISS partnership maintained the station using Russian Soyuz and Progress vehicles, learning lessons instrumental for future space exploration. Items that were meant to be returned to the ground for replacement were repaired on-orbit, consumables tracking operations were honed and EVAs were performed without a crew member inside the vehicle. In 2006, human presence on board the station will return to a permanent crew of 3 and pave the way for resumption of station assembly. The ISS partners have met at the Heads of Agencies level and agreed to a configuration, assembly sequence and transportation strategy. They reaffirmed their agencies’ commitment to meet their mutual obligations, to complete assembly of the ISS by the end of the decade, to implement six person crew capability in 2009 and to use a combination of transportation systems in order to complete ISS assembly in a timeframe that meets the needs of the partners and ensures full utilization of the unique capabilities of the ISS throughout its lifetime. In addition to U.S. Space Shuttle and Russian Soyuz and Progress vehicles, there are multiple vehicles, in various stages of development, which will be used to assemble, maintain and utilize the ISS. These include vehicles resulting from the U.S. Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) acquisition, Europe’s Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), Japan’s HII Transport Vehicle (HTV), and the U.S. Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). These next generation transportation vehicles demonstrate the exciting prospects for future space exploration. The ISS Program is a test bed for on-orbit operations, technology development and the international cooperation necessary for the future exploration of space, providing insight into the prospects for continued growth and cooperation in space exploration. As the capacity for space faring increases worldwide and as more nations invest in space exploration and space sector development, the potential for advancement in space exploration is unlimited. By building on its engineering achievements and international cooperation, the ISS Program is inspiring tomorrow’s explorers today.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-B4.1.01.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.