Article Posted on : - Sep 23, 2010

The International Space Station.

WASHINGTON (BNS): Representatives from leading global space agencies have discussed on extending the life span of the International Space Station (ISS) into the next decade.

Officials from the US space agency NASA, Russian space agency Roscosmos, European Space Agency (ESA), Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology held a videoconference on Tuesday to deliberate on the use of the ISS for some more years.

While Japan has given its consent to continue space station operations beyond 2016, Russia has approved to use it till 2020.

ESA and CSA are working with their respective governments to reach consensus about the continuation of the station.

NASA also is continuing to work with the US Congress to complete the necessary procedures to extend station operations consistent with the presidential budget request, the US space agency said.

The partners also noted the benefits to future exploration beyond low-Earth orbit through enhanced station research, technology development and other opportunities.