NASA Extends Space Station Life To 2024

January 08, 2014 19:35 GMT

For space enthusiasts, November 20, 1998, stands out as a special date. That's when the first component of the International Space Station (ISS), the "Zarya" cargo module, was launched into orbit by a Russian Proton rocket. After decades during which space exploration was viewed as a competition among nations, this step launched a new era of cooperation, where the fruits of space research would be shared by all mankind. Shortly after "Zarya" launched, the first U.S. component of the ISS was sent into space. The NASA shuttle "Endeavour" propelled the "Unity" module to join up with the Russian segment and give the station an authentically international component.

The International Space Station will continue operations for an additional four years, or until 2024, U.S. space agency NASA has announced.

The $100 billion orbiting station has been operational for 15 years and had been expected to operate until 2020.

More than a dozen countries participate in the orbiting laboratory, which is the length of a football field at more than 100 meters.

The space station is maintained by a rotating crew of six astronauts and cosmonauts from the United States, Russia, Europe, Canada and Japan.

Russian Soyuz rockets ferry three-man crews to and from the station.

However, U.S. companies SpaceX and Orbital Sciences are sending supplies using unmanned rockets.

Based on reporting by AP and dpa