Heads of international space agencies prioritise research objectives of ISS
Heads of space agencies from around the world met in Canada on 26 January, where they agreed to further evolve the international space station (ISS) in a way that meets their research and exploration objectives. Space agencies from Europe, the US, Russia, Japan and Canada were represented at the meeting. In addition to agreeing on the research functions of the ISS, participants reaffirmed their commitment completing the assembly of the ISS by the end of the decade. The partners reviewed NASA's plans for returning its space shuttle to flight, and examined the possibility of increasing the ISS crew to more than three once this happens.