Russia's segment of the International Space Station (ISS) will be increased by 2011 with the launches of three research modules and the ISS crew will be increased from three to six in 2009-2010, Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos) Director Anatoly Perminov told reporters on Friday.

 

"The three modules including a multifunctional laboratory module will be launched by 2011. They will operate for five years. After 2011 energy modules will be launched," Perminov was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.

 

As European and Japanese modules will be launched to the space station in 2008, the Roskosmos board discussed on Friday "the launches of our scientific modules," Perminov said.

 

According to Perminov, crew of the ISS will be increased to six members in 2009-2010, including three Russian cosmonauts, one of whom will be a scientist. This will allow pursuing more extensive scientific programs.

 

The increased crew will warrant larger cargo deliveries. Considering the possible stop of flights of American shuttles in 2010, the number of Russian-made manned craft Soyuz and supply ships Progress should be increased.

 

"In prospect, cargoes to the ISS will be delivered not only by Russian, but also by European and Japanese cargo sips," Perminov said.

 

He also said Russia would propose at a meeting of space agency chiefs in 2008 extending the period of using the International Space Station.

 

"There is the hope that the ISS will be workable in the years to 2020 on the provision of doing some work," he said, calling for speeding up work to develop the Russian segment of the space station.

 

At present Russia's segment of the ISS consists of the functional cargo module Zarya, service module Zvezda and the docking compartment Pirs.

 

The American segment includes the modules Unity and Destiny, the airlock Quest, the structure with solar panels, and the new module Harmony that the shuttle Discovery delivered to the space station in October.

 

The European lab module Columbus and Japan's laboratory Kibo are to be attached to the American segment.

 

The construction of the International Space Station began in November 1998. Initially poky conditions in the space station have appreciably improved since then. The assembly of the ISS is to be completed by 2010.

 

The current ISS crew is Russian Yuri Malenchenko and US astronauts Peggy Whitson and Daniel Tani.

 

Over 100 spacemen from Russia, America, Europe and Asia have visited the ISS during its years in existence.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2007)