International Space Station Agreement

The International Space Station Agreement of 1990

Timothy Gilley

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Author note

Timothy Gilley is now a student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide this research was supported in part byTuiton Assistance from Go Army Education

Correspondence regarding this paper should be addressed to Timothy Gilley Ft Irwin CA. 92310 contact: [e-mail]

Abstract

This paper explores several different resources which reference the International Space Station agreement of 1990. Using the course materials and several internet references I will address three major questions regarding the agreement: Why was it necessary to create the International Space Station Agreement of 1990? What were

They created the agreement to essentially cooperate together in order to eliminate wasteful spending and consolidate resources. The United States began to initiate discussions when the USSR was dissolved, they opened up to the EU, Russia, Japan, and Canada in the early 1990s. The agreement was an attempt to combine all of the best parts of existing or planned space stations into one master plan called the International Space Station. The agreement is the treaty signed on January 28, 1998 by the 15 participating countries and the framework is known as the Intergovernmental agreement. The IGA covers the design, operation, development, and utilization of the International Space Station. Also contributing to the framework is two levels of agreement known as the Memoranda Of Understanding. These allow the participating countries to extend their jurisdiction into outer space within the international space station. With the agreement in place countries maintain integrity of each section of the space station that they register, and all of their members on board. The Memoranda of Understanding is absolutely necessary because it lays the groundwork for rule of law in space. Countries will have control of everything they do as it applies to the space station and their crew on

With the ground rules in place we are able to move forward with the agreement. The first section of the International Space Station was placed in orbit in 1998, once the next two sections were in place it was occupied by its very first crew members, two Russians, and one American. The book further goes on to provide additional details about the space station outlining general operation, to activities conducted on the space station. The ISS relies on solar power and generates its own oxygen for the crew. Once the station has been completed it will have 1200 cubic meters of pressurized space which is about the size of the interior of a Boeing 747. (Harry, L. 2014) The Space Station will focus on research in experiment modules which range from biology, physics, astronomy, and meteorology. The goals of this research include developing an understanding of, and the technology to deal with, long-term human presence in space, developing methods for the more efficient production of materials, developing new ways to treat disease, achieving more accurate measurements than is possible on earth, and a better understanding of the universe. (Harry, L.