International cooperation needed for space exploration

Washington DC Examiner: International cooperation needed for space exploration

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Charles Bolden, 12th Administrator of NASA.
Photo: NASA/Bill Ingalls
NASA recognizes that exploration beyond low-Earth orbit will involve the coordination, cooperation and support of other countries, said Charles Bolden, NASA administrator, after meeting with space agency leaders from around the world.

Bolden participated in the Head of Space Agencies Summit in Washington on Wednesday.

More than two dozen leaders attended the meeting to discuss issues almost all countries are grappling with, such as changing national priorities and stagnant budgets.

In October, NASA celebrated its 52nd birthday facing major workforce layoffs and the retirement of the Space Shuttle while China launched their second unmanned spacecraft to the moon. It is predicted more than 9,000 workers will be laid off when the Shuttle program finally comes to an end.

NASA has been actively working with many of the space agencies attending the summit to further common understanding of exploration and establish global partnerships. One global partnership in space construction is coming to a highlight with the completion of the International Space Station (ISS).

Construction of ISS, which began in 1998, is nearly complete in low-Earth orbit and involves 14 international partners. The first piece of ISS was launched into orbit by a Russian Proton rocket.

In August, Bolden signed a joint statement of intent to expand cooperation in civil space activities with the Israel Space Agency. The agencies agreed to identify new joint activities related to Earth and space science, life sciences, space exploration and other areas of mutual interest.

“It is my hope that more countries will become supportive of this cooperative dialogue and adopt a global exploration roadmap,” Bolden said Wednesday. “With a roadmap in place, the participating agencies and their countries will benefit enormously from a comprehensive, global approach to space exploration.”

In April, NASA signed a $335 million contract with the Russian Federal Space Agency to continue launching U.S. astronauts to ISS until 2014 aboard Russian space vehicles.

"I can assure you that as we look to the future, international cooperation will continue to be a cornerstone of NASA's exploration activities,” Bolden added.