Russian Space Program Gets $52Bln Boost

[bananas]

18. Obama completely reversed Bush's decision on the ISS

Bush's decision was to cancel the ISS as soon as our international agreements ended in 2015.
In 2010, Obama extended it to 2020, four months ago he extended it to 2024 and left it open-ended, to 2030 and beyond:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_policy_of_the_Barack_Obama_administration#Extension_of_ISS_operations

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Obama also announced an extension of funding for International Space Station operations, 90% complete by mass[15] at the time of the speech but scheduled to be deorbited by as early as 2015 before Obama announced the extension, which will provide funding through 2020.

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http://www.nasa.gov/news/media/trans/obama_ksc_trans.html

April 15, 2010

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
ON SPACE EXPLORATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY

John F. Kennedy Space Center

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So NASA, from the start, several months ago when I issued my budget, was one of the areas where we didn’t just maintain a freeze but we actually increased funding by $6 billion.

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And we will extend the life of the International Space Station likely by more than five years, while actually using it for its intended purpose: conducting advanced research that can help improve the daily lives of people here on Earth, as well as testing and improving upon our capabilities in space. This includes technologies like more efficient life support systems that will help reduce the cost of future missions. And in order to reach the space station, we will work with a growing array of private companies competing to make getting to space easier and more affordable. (Applause.)

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http://www.universetoday.com/107905/nasa-international-space-station-operations-extended-to-2024/

NASA: International Space Station Operations Extended to 2024
by Nancy Atkinson on January 8, 2014

NASA announced today that the Obama administration has approved NASA’s request for an extension of operations for the International Space Station for an additional four years to 2024. This means work on board the orbiting laboratory will continue at least for another decade.

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Gerstenmaier also sees the ISS as a proving ground for future human spaceflight plans to head out to deep space. “NASA doesn’t think of ISS and deep space human plans as separate, but as a combined strategy,” he said.

A recent review of ISS modules and equipment ensured that the station could likely last until 2028, and Gerstenmaier said this new extension allows operations to be at least considered until nearly 2030.

“Ten years from today is a far-reaching vision,” he said. “Our international partners are well aware of this extension and they were involved in hardware studies to see if station operations could extend. They will continue to evaluate their hardware and they all see this as a positive step in moving forward. … This is truly an international endeavor and we all work together.”

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