Orbiting the earth 16 times 250 miles a day, space stations are among the most impressive achievements of humanity. The International Space Station (ISS) is a partnership between NASA and Russia’s Roscosmos, with contributions from Americans from Canada, Japan, Europe and other countries. Its future is clear, however, and is based on decisions made this year.
About 75 percent of ISS costs are borne by the U.S. Costs 3 billion to 4 billion annually. Russia launched the first components of the ISS in 1998, and by 2010 the ISS was fully operational. The plan was to run for 15 to 20 years for the ISS, by which time it would have been replaced. That was not the case.
The ISS is valued at more than 150 150 billion, more than five times the combined budgets of NASA and Roscosmos, so replacing it would likely suffocate funding for Earth observations, lunar or Mars human visits or deep space exploration. The Trump administration’s “Artemis” response was to shift the Earth’s orbiting space station from the government to the private sector and instead focus on government spending on lunar-orbiting space stations and manned lunar landings. Since many countries have already agreed to invest in the US lunar space station, it is difficult to see how these countries will invest in the અ 100 billion replacement ISS. Therefore, as long as the Artemis program is not delayed, the financial burden of the new ISS will be borne by the U.S. Falls on
Extending the life of the ISS is facilitated by its component design, which facilitates the removal of worn parts such as solar panels. Accordingly, NASA, Roscosmos and international partners agreed to continue it until 2028 (8 to 10 years longer than its lifespan) and possibly 2030.
The ISS is already 20 years old, and – at this age – we should be prepared for a surprise: when a slow air leak was discovered, an astronaut initially plugged it with his finger, then packed it with tape. It’s not the only time they’ve kept air at the station with tape, and none of the dangers of colliding with debris are likely to be the last crash before 2030. If a comparable replacement for the ISS is to take place by 2030, preliminary work should begin by 2021. If work on the replacement does not begin by 2021, then the comparable station is likely to be in service by 2028/30. But there is more.
ISS is about to get a huge publicity boost: there are plans to film parts of two big movies this year. Universal Studios and NASA announced that the 200 200 million Tom Cruise thriller would be partially filmed within the ISS, and Russia’s Channel One and Rozkosmos announced that they would make a single film. Millions of people could soon be awakened by the glamorized scenes riding on the ISS.
However, Roscosmos agreed to continue the ISS until 2028/30, but suggested that if the US closed the US ISS segments, Russia would isolate parts of Russia and use them alone or as a partner Russian space station. No one in Russia has forgotten that the first space stations were Russian or that the Mir space station was in operation for 14 years before the ISS. The possibility of a Russian-owned space station remains.
Strong opposition to U.S. defense interests And space cooperation between China, which was effectively banned by the 2011 law. Not surprisingly, China has pursued a space program without joining the ISS. These include satellite, lunar and planetary missions and, in early 2011, China’s own space stations, Tiangong 1 and 2. In 2021, China will begin construction of the multi-module station, Tiangong 3, launched to look like the ISS. It should be operational by 2022, including European and other astronauts, and will be well operational after the ISS.
Assuming the US does not make ISS replacements, the US main strategy will be to replace the ISS with private space stations. Many American companies have already begun work, although most of the ISS is used as a foundation.
Leading American business building its own station is the privately owned Axiom Space, which launches companies such as Space X and offers module construction to Thales Alenia Corp. Separation in late 2020. Exim’s plan is to use one module for operation, another for experiments / production and a third as a luxury resort. Last year, NASA awarded Axiom 140 140 million to help build its first module. Axiom will host Universal Studios and Tom Cruise this year and will send 3 space travelers to ISS in 2022, paying space 55 million for a week.
Other companies are further behind, including Sierra Nevada Corp., Nano Rex and Bigelow.
U.S. One of the most important recent developments in space policy is the U.S. The Space Force (USSF) was formed. One of its main objectives is to protect American space assets, and it is hard to imagine that the USSF leadership would not consider a military space station. While NASA has long cooperated in the military and while the U.S. military is one of the largest owners of satellites, the U.S. military space station has not been proposed since the 1960s.
Last year, the Sierra Nevada was contracted by the Defense Innovation Unit to build an unmanned orbital outpost that could host military crews. The company will use its planned cargo vehicle as a platform, from where it will build a military outpost. The initial flight of the cargo vehicle for the IASS, attached to the Sierra Nevada spacecraft, is scheduled for 2021. This will obviously form the basis for the conversion of the vehicle into a military space station.
So, this year construction will begin on the new Chinese space station and American business space station; The Pentagon will begin searching for its first space station, and – perhaps – we will learn more about any future Russian space station. More importantly, the Biden administration has decided whether there will be a replacement for the ISS, especially since – given the long lead time – no decision in 2021 is a decision.
Roger Cochetti Washington Washington, D.C. Provides consulting and consulting services in He was a senior executive with the Communications Satellite Corporation (COMSAT) from 1981 to 1994. He directed Internet public policy for IBM from 1994 to 2000 and later served as Senior Vice-President and Chief Policy Officer. For Verisine and Group Policy Director for COMPTIA. He served on the State Department’s Advisory Committee on International Communications and Information Policy during the Bush and Obama administrations, testified several times on Internet policy issues, and served on advisory committees to the FTC and various UN agencies. He is the author of the Mobile Satellite Communications Handbook.
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