The Space Station’s new lease on life

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The United States committed itself this past Thursday at the International Space Exploration Forum to extending the shelf life of the International Space Station (ISS) until at least 2024. Speaking in front of ministerial-level delegates from almost every space-faring country on the planet, the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology, John Holdren, explained that “the Obama Administration’s decision to extend (the ISS’) life until at least 2024 will allow us to maximize its potential, deliver critical benefits to our Nation and the world, and maintain American leadership in space.”

The forum, aimed at ensuring ongoing international support for space exploration, was a high-profile demonstration of that American leadership.

In a written statement, Secretary of State John Kerry addressed the assembly and the significance of space research, noting how endeavors like the ISS “promote innovation and economic development, foster scientific advancement, and inspire the next generation of explorers to pursue studies and careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.”

Mr. Kerry’s lieutenant, Deputy Secretary William Burns, summarized the significance of the ISS’ extension most succinctly: “we all share a deep stake in extending humanity’s reach further into the solar system, advancing innovation further and faster, and extending the benefits of discovery to more people in more places.”

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