ISS Transition to Commercial Stations Poses Challenges for Partners

Arthur T Knackerbracket has processed the following story:

NASA's plans to shift from the International Space Station to commercial space stations may force one key partner to rethink how it cooperates in low Earth orbit.

Speaking at a panel on space diplomacy organized by George Washington University's Space Policy Institute Feb. 23, Sylvie Espinasse, head of the European Space Agency's Washington office, said the current arrangements between ISS partners to barter resources won't work well on future commercial stations in low Earth orbit.

ESA-NASA cooperation on the ISS is based on non-exchange of funds and barter of goods and services between the partners," she said. This allows ESA to use its asset in orbit, the Columbus module, and to fly its European astronauts."

Once NASA shifts to commercial stations, though, ESA will probably not be in a position to buy commercial services from U.S. providers for its research activities in LEO or to fly its astronauts," she warned. This will probably not be acceptable for our member states." Buying services from U.S. companies, she explained, would contradict an ESA mandate to support Europe's space industry.

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