WASHINGTON, December 23. /TASS/. The US-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is poised to continue safe and efficient use of the International Space Station (ISS) and values its professional cooperation with Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, a NASA spokesperson told TASS on Thursday.
Commenting on Roscosmos’ request to continue using the ISS until 2028, NASA spokesperson Lora Bleacher said: "NASA remains committed to the continued safe and effective operations of the International Space Station."
"Each international partner must work through their respective government processes on station extension participation," she added. "We continue to appreciate the professional interactions between NASA and Roscosmos, including our astronauts and cosmonauts conducting science and technical activities in orbit."
Earlier, Roscosmos Director General Yury Borisov said the Russian space corporation had filed a request to continue using the ISS until 2028. In his words, Russia will remain in the project for as long as possible, but the station’s future condition can hardly be predicted with certainty.
In April 2021, Borisov said that the condition of the ISS leaves much to be desired, so Russia would focus on creating its own orbital station. Energia Rocket and Space Corporation was tasked with building the first module for the new orbital station - a research and energy module - by the end of 2025.