US and Russian space explorers work together onboard ISS for 1 year

World Today

Russia’s Federal Space Agency Roscosmos said that Russia and the U.S. have agreed to extend the operation of the International Space Station (ISS) until 2024. This comes as an American astronaut and Russian cosmonaut blasted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome on their way to the ISS, where they will stay for an entire year. It will be the longest mission on-board the ISS so far.

CCTV’s Anya Ardayeva filed this report from Moscow.

Highlights:

  • Last week, two Russian cosmonauts and a U.S. astronaut set off to the ISS aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule with two of them planning to live on the station until next March.
  • American Scott Kelly will remain onboard the ISS, which flies some 260 miles (418 kilometers) above Earth, until next March. This is longer than any U.S. astronaut in history.
  • The astronauts will undergo extensive medical experiments during their year in space, helping scientists to find out whether the damage done to the human body in zero gravity can be cured or reversed. This may help protect crews flying to Mars in the future.
  • NASA said it expects the crews to make four spacewalks and to install equipment for the anticipated arrival of new U.S. commercial crew capsules in 2017.
  • Russia is currently carrying the sole responsibility of ferrying cargo and people to the ISS after the U.S. shuttle program was shut down.
  • This is NASA’s first attempt at a one-year spaceflight.