"We laid bare our principled stance to our partners-to cope in full with our obligations to them is one of our central ISS-related duties. However, there are mere final touches to apply to our assignments next year. So, starting 2005, Russia shifts top priority to progress of its own ISS segment, and its own crew's working conditions.
"We shall willingly offer Russian segment resources to all our partners on the programme and those outside the project, as well-on an exchange basis. I see the latter point as the main thing that matters."
The conferees debated and approved a final version of station configuration. "We expect to have confirmed the ISS arrangements before the nearest space agency chiefs' conference. It will gather in Canada early next year," Mr. Moisseyev went on.
The way the station will be on its final version promises to extend research, and increase the ISS crew from present-day three ahead of schedule.
The FSA and NASA chiefs ordered their deputies during the conference to pace up specification of Russian and US duties and money contributions, so that the job may finish before November next.
The Parties agreed for extra efforts to assess and approve scheduled flight assignments for next year, and to estimate opportunities of launching and orbiting Japan's JEM-Kybo and Europe's Columbus research units ahead of schedule. The partners also determined to draft and schedule practical arrangements for a larger standing ISS crew.
The NASA and the FSA once again confirmed their determination to maintain, both together and independently, unbroken manned flight of the International Space Station with an integrated crew, and guarantee crew rotation and, if necessary, rescue, on a parity pattern. With that end in view, the Parties agreed to finish drafting mutual obligations as soon as possible. Resultant technical blueprints will be offered for consideration to the next conference. The partners will coordinate a final ISS configuration after that.
