spacetoday.net: Canada extends support for ISS

Posted: Thu, Mar 1, 2012, 8:54 AM ET (1354 GMT)
ISS illustration (NASA)

The Canadian government announced Wednesday it has formally agreed to continue its participation in the International Space Station beyond 2015, making it the last of the five major partners to do so. The announcement by the Canadian Space Agency gave few details beyond its agreement to "renew its commitment" to the station. NASA, ESA, JAXA, and Roscosmos had all previously agreed to continue space station operations beyond the original end date of 2015 until at least 2020. Despite the extension, which opens the door for future visits to the station by Canadian astronauts after this year's flight of Chris Hadfield, the Canadian government is planning a 16-percent cut in the CSA's budget for 2012.