Saint-Hubert, Quebec, December 6, 2002 – Space agency leaders from the
United States, Europe, Canada, Japan and Russia met today in Tokyo, Japan,
to review and further promote International Space Station (ISS) cooperation.
The meeting participants reviewed in detail the significant progress that
has been made in the development and deployment of the ISS elements and in
the implementation of the ISS Program Action Plan adopted at the last Heads
of Agency meeting in June 2002. This Plan provided the framework for the
Partnership’s efforts over the last six months to select an option path to
meet the utilization and resource requirements of the ISS.
At this meeting, the participants unanimously endorsed an option path that
enables maximized ISS utilization in the 2006/2007 timeframe through greater
use of ISS research elements. The implementation of an expanded scientific
program on the ISS would be supported by phased growth of ISS capabilities,
significantly increased quantity of permanent crew, with crew rescue
initially provided by additional Soyuz crew rescue vehicles and eventually
by both Soyuz and Orbital Space Plane. Additional space shuttle and other
vehicle support would also enhance this unique on-orbit research facility.
The participants also agreed upon a process for selecting an ISS
configuration beyond the accommodation of the remaining International
Partner elements. This process includes further technical and programmatic
assessment, cost estimation, and internal budgetary reviews by each partner.
It will lead to approval of a configuration option recommendation in March
2003, the selection of a revised ISS configuration option by June/July 2003,
and agreement on a configuration by December 2003.
The Partners noted with great enthusiasm the continuing success of ISS
assembly activities and confirmed that development of the remaining ISS
elements is proceeding as planned. They look forward to the successful
accommodation of key ISS partner elements by February 2004 that will allow
the accommodation of remaining ISS partner utilization and infrastructure
elements. This will enable improved scientific and technological
capabilities in the 2006/2007 timeframe.
They also highlighted the third year of permanent human presence and
research on board the ISS and the recent successful launch of the ISS
Expedition Six crew. This crew will concentrate on assembly tasks and the
conduct of essential scientific research on behalf of all of the ISS
Partners to improve life on Earth while exploring the frontier of space. The
Partners look forward to increasing tangible benefits of this unprecedented
international cooperation as the Partnership proceeds with assembly, and
increased utilization, of this world-class research facility.