The international space station (ISS) partners have begun reviewing their on-board hardware with the goal of certifying it for use until 2028 even as they seek ways to reduce the annual operating costs of the orbital complex, the partners said in a joint statement March 11, 2010, reports SpaceNews.Commerce space launch firms in the United States will have a greater opportunity to provide services to the ISS with a neraly 20-year extended life of the hardware. Russia, Japan, and Europe each have cargo spacecraft with planned missions to the ISS.
American firms Orbital Sciences Corporation and SpaceX both have commercial contracts set to commence within the next few months following the space shuttle fleet retirement later this year.
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