This week, I join dozens of scientists and engineers from around the world in an International Space Station Research and Development Conference that will not only attract new innovators to our work, but also showcase the diversity of efforts going on right now that make the station so indispensable in our journey to Mars.
I’ve been a big supporter of the station since long before the first component ever launched to orbit. Why? Because it’s vital that humans learn to live and work in space over the long-term, and as a researcher I always yearned to fly an experiment on ISS.
Now, some 250 miles overhead, astronauts are conducting critical research every day that is not possible on Earth. That research is improving our lives and bringing us closer to a goal humans have dreamt of for centuries — to reach Mars. We’re learning new things about our planet as the ISS expands its capabilities for Earth science, and we’re facilitating the growth of a robust commercial market in low-Earth orbit for research, technology development and human and cargo transportation. And we’ve built a historic model for global cooperation.
Today, the station is our springboard to Mars. On ISS we’re testing new technologies for going farther and evaluating critical human health issues. Astronaut Scott Kelly is now in the middle of a one year mission that is comparing his vital signs to those of his brother Mark on Earth. It’s a first in research to help us carry out longer duration human missions to deep space.
Since 2012, much of the station’s research has been carried to orbit by our U.S. commercial cargo providers Orbital ATK and SpaceX. While both companies have recently experienced setbacks, we’re very confident both will return to flight soon to continue this important work.
The commercial cargo program was designed to accommodate loss of cargo vehicles, and we will continue operation of the station in a safe and effective way as we continue to use it as our test bed for preparing for longer duration missions farther into the solar system.
Both SpaceX and Orbital have demonstrated extraordinary capabilities in their first cargo resupply missions to the station, and we know they can replicate that success. This is a reminder that spaceflight is an incredible challenge, but we learn from each success and each setback.These early mishaps in the commercial cargo program will help us understand our systems even better and strengthen our resolve to once more launch astronauts from the United States on the systems of American companies.
In the next few years, SpaceX and Boeing will send our crews to orbit from the United States, increasing the size of space station crews to seven and potentially doubling the amount of crew time to conduct research for all of humanity. That’s incredibly exciting news for all of us who benefit from the International Space Station, which is to say – everyone on Earth.
I know I’m not the only one looking forward to the dialogue and exchange at this conference and the chance to learn new things about our incredible space station. It’s a catalyst for our future, and it’s leveraging today’s innovation for our journey to Mars.