Trump wants to sell the International Space Station
Having expressed his frustration with having to fund too much for the International Space Station (ISS), the US President seems to be carrying out his intention to transfer this project to the private sector.
The ISS space station was initially conceived with many missions, including the role of a fuel supply station for flights further into the vastness of space - Photo: AFP
The International Space Station (ISS) could become a commercial project operated and exploited by the private sector. That is the wish of the White House boss after his predecessor decided to stop funding this expensive space laboratory in the next few years.
The Washington Post on February 11 cited an internal document of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) saying that President Donald Trump's administration plans to privatize the ISS station.
According to the document, Washington's decision to end direct support for the ISS in 2024 does not mean the space station will have to leave Earth's orbit and end its research mission. NASA may continue to operate some ISS activities.
According to the document, NASA will expand its list of commercial and international partners over the next seven years to maintain the ISS's operations to ensure humans continue to have access to and presence in low Earth orbit.
The Trump administration has proposed $150 million for ISS operations in fiscal year 2019 and continuing to fund the lab in future years. But he also wants to recoup as much of that money as possible if the private sector is willing to pay for the opportunity to operate the ISS.
The purpose of this budget proposal is to develop commercial aspects and capabilities to ensure that commercial "legacy" companies to the ISS can operate when needed as the space race is re-emerging with private projects.
Astronaut Kate Rubins adjusts a cable at the ISS on August 19, 2016 - Photo: AFP
To smooth the transition, the White House plans to ask the private sector to provide market analysis reports and development plans. However, the plan to privatize the ISS is likely to face many objections.
The US has spent more than $100 billion since the project began, and has contributed about $3-4 billion each year to maintain and support the ISS research station, which is a joint project with the European Space Agency (ESA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAEA) and the Russian Space Agency (RSA).
Since the beginning of former President George W. Bush's 2001-2009 term, NASA has subcontracted some ISS support activities, starting with supply flights to SpaceX and Orbital ATK. Private companies taking over some ISS logistics activities became more common during President Barack Obama's term.
Three astronauts in the cramped compartment of the ISS - Photo: AFP
However, it is unclear how private commercial companies might benefit from taking over operations of the aging space station. NASA has not yet commented.
The ISS has living space for up to 6 people. Orbiting 400 km above Earth at a speed of about 28,000 km/h, the ISS takes 90 minutes to complete one rotation around the Earth.
Although launched into orbit in 1998, it was not until November 2, 2000 that the ISS welcomed the first three astronauts of Expedition 1, including NASA's Bill Shepard, Russian cosmonauts Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev on a 136-day mission.
