Ladies and Gentlemen of the press!
At a press conference on January 20, 2011 (10:00 CET, Raum D, Museumsquartier, Vienna), the representatives of the International Space Station Multilateral Coordination Board will unanimously reaffirm their strong interest in maximizing the benefits from utilization of the ISS. Consistent with previous direction from the ISS Heads of Agency regarding the future of the ISS, the MCB will also confirm that there are no identified technical constraints to continuing ISS operations in 2011 and beyond.
Having successfully achieved an increase in the ISS crew from 3 to 4 in May 2010 and with ISS assembly nearing completion, the MCB representatives are in agreement that the full exploitation of the Station’s scientific, engineering, and education development potential is of the highest priority. The enhanced use of this microgravity research laboratory will drive advanced science and technology that will deliver benefits to humanity, while preparing the way for future collaboration on international space exploration missions.
Sincerely,
Lyndon Peltzer, CoP
NASA / Washington, DC
(*) The Multilateral Coordination Board (MCB) includes senior representatives from NASA, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the European Space Agency (ESA), the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), and the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).