Russia's segment of the International Space Station (ISS) will
be increased by 2011 with the launches of three research modules
and the ISS crew will be increased from three to six in 2009-2010,
Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos) Director Anatoly Perminov told
reporters on Friday.
"The three modules including a multifunctional laboratory module
will be launched by 2011. They will operate for five years. After
2011 energy modules will be launched," Perminov was quoted by the
Itar-Tass news agency as saying.
As European and Japanese modules will be launched to the space
station in 2008, the Roskosmos board discussed on Friday "the
launches of our scientific modules," Perminov said.
According to Perminov, crew of the ISS will be increased to six
members in 2009-2010, including three Russian cosmonauts, one of
whom will be a scientist. This will allow pursuing more extensive
scientific programs.
The increased crew will warrant larger cargo deliveries.
Considering the possible stop of flights of American shuttles in
2010, the number of Russian-made manned craft Soyuz and supply
ships Progress should be increased.
"In prospect, cargoes to the ISS will be delivered not only by
Russian, but also by European and Japanese cargo sips," Perminov
said.
He also said Russia would propose at a meeting of space agency
chiefs in 2008 extending the period of using the International
Space Station.
"There is the hope that the ISS will be workable in the years to
2020 on the provision of doing some work," he said, calling for
speeding up work to develop the Russian segment of the space
station.
At present Russia's segment of the ISS consists of the
functional cargo module Zarya, service module Zvezda and the
docking compartment Pirs.
The American segment includes the modules Unity and Destiny, the
airlock Quest, the structure with solar panels, and the new module
Harmony that the shuttle Discovery delivered to the space station
in October.
The European lab module Columbus and Japan's laboratory Kibo are
to be attached to the American segment.
The construction of the International Space Station began in
November 1998. Initially poky conditions in the space station have
appreciably improved since then. The assembly of the ISS is to be
completed by 2010.
The current ISS crew is Russian Yuri Malenchenko and US
astronauts Peggy Whitson and Daniel Tani.
Over 100 spacemen from Russia, America, Europe and Asia have
visited the ISS during its years in existence.
(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2007)
