NASA seeks investors for privatization of International Space Station

NASA says it intends to move forward with its plan to privatize the International Space Station (ISS). The information was given by current US agency administrator Jim Bridenstine in an interview with The Washington Post. According to him, the proposal is that the operation be assumed in the form of a consortium. For this to happen, the representative says he has already talked to companies interested in investing in the project within this reality. However, the names of these corporations were not mentioned.

The possibility arose earlier this year when the White House announced it could stop direct funding for the ISS by 2025. The argument is that the station costs between $ 3 billion and $ 4 billion a year today. This value could then be used for NASA specific missions.

However, the proposal was not well received in the United States by scientists, astronauts and congressmen from various political fronts, including some Republicans. The main criticism in this regard is that the International Space Station would still be considered an important means of scientific research, which could bring major technological advances worldwide. Therefore, once companies were responsible for their maintenance, the main focus would become economic.

On the other hand, maybe the plan may not go that far. After all, it is clear that ISS needs a high cost to maintain, which may actually be an investor repellent. Still, the United States is not alone in deciding its fate, as its administration is done in conjunction with other countries, such as Russia, Canada, Japan, as well as the 22 nations that make up the European Space Agency.

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NASA seeks investors for privatization of International Space Station via TecMundo