Roscosmos believes ISS operation can continue

MOSCOW. Nov 3 (Interfax) - The International Space Station (ISS) is in a good shape although its service life is running out, and Russia is ready to continue its operation, Roscosmos Executive Director for Manned Programs Sergei Krikalev said at the Knowledge about Heroes education marathon.

"The station's flight is continuing, [it] is in good shape," Krikalev said.

The ISS, which commenced operation in 1998, had an original service life of 15 years, he said.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said on October 24 that Russia deemed it possible to continue operation of the ISS until 2028.

He also said that specialists from the Energia Rocket and Space Corporation did not detect any technical problems, which could prevent the station's Russian segment from being used after 2024.

Krikalev said on October 4 that the state corporation hopes to get the Russian government's authorization next year to continue its participation in the ISS project after 2024.

The current agreement on the ISS operation ends in 2024. Russia said it was planning to withdraw from the project after 2024 but the precise date remained unknown.

Roscosmos head Yury Borisov said earlier that the withdrawal from the ISS project should be synchronized with the beginning of the deployment of a new Russian space station.