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[i]At the Space Symposium in Colorado this week, I'm excited to continue sharing with the national and international space community NASA's progress and our path forward back to the Moon and destinations beyond. In particular, I'm looking forward to continuing discussions we've already begun with our partners about the next phase of the International Space Station's life beyond 2024, when we plan to end direct government funding of it. I want to assure everyone that our involvement with station is not planned to end abruptly or without thoughtful consideration of how to transition this amazing resource. The ISS team and all the astronauts who helped us build it have been delivering on the ISS' promise for more than two decades now, with incredible international labs, hundreds of experiments and use by many people who previously had no access to space, and perhaps most importantly as a great source of inspiration. I still can't get over the fact that a high school senior this year has never known a time when humans haven't been living and working in space. I want that to remain so as we build on that record every single year. Late last month, we delivered to Congress a report as part of an action in the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017 evaluating the ISS as a platform for research, deep space exploration, and low-Earth orbit (LEO) spaceflight in partnership with our international partners, and the commercial space sector. I hope you've all had a chance to take a [URL=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/iss_transition_report_180330.pdf]look at the report[/URL]. As we begin our missions to the Moon and beyond in the coming years, NASA will continue to have a need in LEO for regular crewed operations, long-term technology and systems development and demonstrations, space and life sciences research, and opportunities for astrophysics, space, and Earth science research. The report lays out the principles by which NASA and its stakeholders will ensure uninterrupted access to low-Earth orbit, including the continuity of human spaceflight, and a vibrant and competitive industrial base. While the report reaffirms NASA's commitment to its international partnership for the space station, it also makes a commitment to seeking new partners in low-Earth orbit and beyond as NASA leads a coalition deeper into space. One reason we're starting the discussions now about the ISS beyond 2024 is so we have plenty of time to evaluate options and plan for a viable path forward. Ideally, we'd become one of many customers purchasing services from the ISS and other assets in low-Earth orbit by that time. In the FY19 budget currently working through its annual process, there's $150 million for companies to submit proposals about what their interests might be in playing a part in the commercialization of the ISS. Tests flights later this year of the systems of our industry partners to take astronauts to space will also be significant milestones on our road to the ongoing transformation of LEO and its essential contributions toward our overall strategy in space. The ISS represents an unparalleled capability in human spaceflight that is increasing knowledge of engineering and physical sciences, biology, our home planet, and the universe through its hundreds of research and technology demonstrations. And, it provides the foundation for continuing human spaceflight beyond low-Earth orbit. I always say, that when we're back at the Moon and going farther, we need to look back and see a vibrant economy in LEO as the support that is helping us to get there and that will continue to transform life on Earth. I want to thank the teams and crews of the ISS for the great work they continue to accomplish with this amazing orbiting laboratory. ISS is truly the cornerstone of our future human spaceflight journey![/i]
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