NASA Administrator Charles Bolden: Space Station Will Continue Until 2020; A second Israeli astronaut is not expected

Boldin lectured and participated in a press conference at the Air Force Base in Herzliya and in response to a question from the Hidan site, he said that American public opinion, in a situation of three launches, would not like the places being occupied by non-Americans

In a few days US President Barack Obama is expected to publish his plan regarding the future of the American space program. NASA head Charles Bolden is visiting Israel on the occasion of the fifth annual Ilan Ramon International Space Conference, organized by the Ministry of Science and the Fisher Institute at the Air Force Base in Herzliya. It is not clear to what extent President Obama will preserve the outline of the Augustine report which stated that in the current budgetary situation it is not possible to reach the moon. But he gave one hint - the International Space Station program will operate until 2020, and will serve as a springboard beyond low earth orbit.

By the way, the one who strengthened his words and was more decisive is Enrico Sagasa, the head of the Italian Space Agency, who also mentioned that a space shuttle will take the cupola into space - a component that was entirely fabricated in Italy and which will serve as an observation deck of the space station. Sagasa reinforced Bolden's words and said with certainty that the station will operate until at least 2020.

In response to the question of the Ydan site at the press conference held on the occasion of the visit, whether a second Israeli astronaut is expected, Bolden replied that the American space program itself is in the stages of re-examination and public opinion, even when the vehicles that will replace the shuttle are built, they will at most contain three astronauts and he predicts that American public opinion You wouldn't like these rare seats to be taken by non-Americans.

Bolden emphasized that one of his top priority tasks is to finish the ferry project safely. The retirement of the ferries at the end of 2010 will result in the absence of manned launch capability for a long period. To maintain the International Space Station, NASA purchased launch services from the Russian Space Agency. However, the agency prefers not to rely only on this option and they urge the private industry and the international partners - especially Europe, to develop a manned launch capability to low orbit.

"It is interesting that at NASA we have hundreds of international agreements, but over half of them are with ten countries. My ambition is to expand our cooperation with smaller countries that have a desire to integrate in the field of space but may not have the physical or financial means to do so, non-traditional partners."
Bolden emphasized that the president's decision, even if it includes a budget supplement, is not the last word on the matter, but rather the first, after which a long negotiation with the Senate and the House of Representatives is expected until the bill becomes law.

Will humanity return to the moon and continue to Mars?

"I hope we all fly to the moon together. There are several reasons why this should be an international project. It is dangerous, requires a variety of abilities and skills that are difficult to find in one country. We can do this but we won't always have the best person.

"As for Mars, I estimate that when humanity decides that it is time to send humans to Mars, an international project will be carried out. With current technology it is impossible or very expensive to protect the astronauts from the radiation en route. When we can fly responsibly and ethically, and make sure they can survive and return safely, we will.