NOTE: External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein.
| The State Department web site below is a permanent electronic archive of information released prior to January 20, 2001. Please see www.state.gov for material released since President George W. Bush took office on that date. This site is not updated so external links may no longer function. Contact us with any questions about finding information. NOTE: External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein. |
 |
International Space Station Partners Agreement Remarks made at signing session, Department of State, Washington, D.C., January 29, 1998 As released by the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, January 30, 1998 |
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KIMBLE: Mr. Secretary, Mr. Minister, Members of Congress, distinguished visitors, ladies and gentlemen, two years from now as we celebrate the millennium, people around the world, looking into the night sky from the vast plains of Central Asia, from the Rocky Mountains of North America, from the bustling streets of Tokyo or the broad boulevards of Berlin will be able to see a bright new star.
That star will be the international space station – a technological marvel orbiting the Earth with men and women living and working inside for the benefit of all humanity. The international space station is a bold and visionary endeavor by 15 nations working together as partners to take the next big step in humankind’s quest to explore the heavens.
We are gathered here today to sign documents that will cement our partnership, committing our governments to work together into the 21st century to make the international space station a reality.
On behalf of Secretary Albright, who unfortunately could not be here today because of an important last-minute trip, and on behalf of our leading Acting Secretary of State, Strobe Talbott, I would like to join with them in welcoming you to the Department of State to witness and participate in this historic event. Before we proceed with the signature of documents, I would like to ask Dr. Jack Gibbons, the President’s science advisor to say a few words.
DR. GIBBONS: Thank you, Assistant Secretary Kimble, for that introduction. I would like, on behalf of the President and the Vice President, to welcome all of you to this important event. I’m particularly thankful that the Deputy Secretary Talbott and the Department of State and Administrator Dan Goldin of NASA are hosting this occasion here today. I also want to welcome the ministers, ambassadors and space agency heads of our partner countries for joining us here today. Of course I want to extend a warm welcome to our friend and colleagues, members of Congress who are not only here with us for this occasion today, but whose support of this initiative has been and will continue to be invaluable. Finally, I’m delighted to see Senator John Glenn here with other members of our crowd who will be leaving Earth in not too many months to go to places where most of us only dream about.
Today we celebrate a key milestone in humanity’s journey into the future. The journey is made possible not through the efforts of any single space agency, not through any single nation, but through the strength and common purpose of the partnership that we celebrate today.
The station represents one of the most challenging technological and managerial tasks every undertaken by mankind. Each of the partners represented here today has a specific and an important role to play. Canada, through the Canadian Space Agency, will provide critical robotic capabilities for assembly and operation of the station. The participating nations of Europe, through the European Space Agency, will provide a pressurized laboratory and flight elements to re-boost and to supply the space station. Japan will provide an experimental module, including an exposed facility, experimental logistics modules and flight elements to re-supply the space station. Russia, through the Russian Space Agency, will provide infrastructure elements, including service, research and life support modules, payload equipment and flight elements to supply and re-boost the space station. And the United States, through our own NASA, will also provide infrastructure elements, including a habitation module, a laboratory module, a payload equipment and flight elements to support the station, including the space shuttle.
When complete, I think we all know that the international space station will provide a unique international facility. We can anticipate major advances in micro-gravity research, in life sciences, biotechnology, just to name a few examples of how this facility will be used and prove to be a valuable resource in the 21st century.
The station also represents something larger, though, than just the science and technology we will pursue. To the people in this room, and indeed to people around the world, the station serves as a very powerful symbol of what great nations can do through peaceful cooperation. It will stand as a visible and concrete symbol of the tremendous possibilities open to us as we cross into the next millennium.
Today we are formalizing this new relationship, and with these agreements we mark our commitment to move forward together. We can all be proud of this momentous step that our partnership takes today in concluding these agreements. So again, on behalf of the President and the Vice President, I welcome you to the ceremony, and I thank all of those here today who have worked so long and hard to make today possible.
Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KIMBLE: To bring this partnership into being, we will be signing five agreements today. These are the Intergovernmental Agreement, which will be signed by representatives of the United States, Canada, Japan, Russia and 11 members of the European Space Agency – Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom; an Arrangement of Interim Cooperation, also to be signed by these government representatives; three Implementing Memoranda of Understanding – one between NASA and the Canadian Space Agency, another between NASA and the European Space Agency and the third between NASA and the Russian Space Agency.
I now invite the government representatives to open their folders and begin signing the agreements.
I want to also be sure the government representatives who are signing the Arrangement on Interim Cooperation will also be sure to sign the second signature page in your folder, because L will not let you leave the podium if you haven’t.
I would now like to invite representatives of the five international space station partners – the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan and Russia – to make a few remarks. I now call on Acting Assistant Secretary Strobe Talbott.
ACTING SECRETARY TALBOTT: By the way, L stands for the Office of the Legal Advisor of the State Department, a particularly important bureau of this building which keeps us legal.
I want to thank all of you for being here for this very important event. I add my own welcome to that of Jack and Melinda to everybody here. It’s an important indication of the support that this program enjoys -- the Legislative Branch of the United States Government, that so many members of Congress would be here – I think it’s entirely appropriate that Senator Glenn should be singled out. All of us wish you a good trip.
(Applause.)
Senator, I take that gesture to mean that you’re going to be in good company.
(Laughter.)
The Secretary of State herself is particularly sorry not to be here today. I’m sure you all understand the reasons why she could not be with us. She’s in Paris for the first in an important series of meetings on the situation in Iraq.
When I spoke to her earlier, she asked me to convey not only her regret, but also her belief that this ceremony is a reminder that even in the midst of dealing with the most serious and immediate challenges, we must maintain the momentum of long-term projects like the international space station.
The agreements that we have just signed are the result of an effort that has endured and prospered throughout a period of sweeping historical change. Just to illustrate that point, let’s look back ten years to September 1988, when representatives of the European Space Agency, Japan, Canada and the United States gathered on the eighth floor of this building to launch the space station project. That same week, Andrey Gromyko retired from the Politburo of the communist party of the Soviet Union. Another country that no longer exists, Yugoslavia, entered a constitutional crisis. And in South Africa, the government there arrested prominent anti-apartheid activists throughout the country.
The world has obviously changed in fundamental, far-reaching and, in many respects, very positive ways in the decade since then. One of the most positive manifestations of that change is the growing participation of the Russian Federation in the institutions and endeavors that define the international community.
As Jack noted at the outset, Russia’s involvement in the project that brings us together today will enable us to build a better space station. So this is an effort that makes sense in its own right. But the ongoing, day-to-day, practical progress that we make will help us achieve other over-arching goals as well. It will help us deepen the reservoir of trust in which to dissolve the lingering antagonisms and suspicions of the past.
I’m one of many here today who are old enough to have witnessed an evolution -- I’m tempted to say, even a revolution – in the way that we think about how nations interact in space. We went from the days of Glenn versus Gagarin to the breakthrough of Apollo – (inaudible) – when astronauts and cosmonauts demonstrated what they could do together.
We saw a rivalry with ominous implications for the very survival of humanity metamorphose into a genuine partnership with auspicious implications for the international community as a whole. That community is well represented at this event today by ambassadors, cabinet ministers and space agency heads from 15 countries on three continents.
Let me, if I may, single out one guest in particular, by paying a special tribute to Yuri Koptev. I do so, by the way, not only on my own behalf and that of Secretary Albright, but on behalf of all of my colleagues in the United States Government. I’d like to mention, in particular, Leon Fuerth, the National Security Advisor to the Vice President, and one of the moving forces behind the Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission. As General Director of the Russian Space Agency, Dr. Koptev is a pioneer of the cosmos, esteemed by our own estimable Dan Goldin of NASA, and esteemed by all the American scientists who have worked with him.
But beyond that, Dr. Koptev has served more than once as a special envoy of President Yeltsin and Prime Minister Chernomyrdin, and in that capacity he has proved himself an able and dedicated problem solver and statesman here on Earth.
Dr. Koptev, I would like to thank you for the many contributions that you’ve made to a new era of international cooperation, including in recent weeks and even in recent days, and to welcome you and your countrymen to full participation in one of the great adventures of our time. And to all of you I say, particularly to Senator Glenn, in the most literal sense, onward and upward.
Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KIMBLE: I would now invite the representative of Canada, Minister Duhamel, to make some remarks.
MINISTER DUHAMEL: Thank you, Madame Chair; and very special thanks to Mr. Talbott. I am particularly pleased and proud to be here today representing Canada to reaffirm with all of you the cooperation we formalized almost ten years ago in September 1988 to build and utilize the permanent space-based laboratory.
First and foremost, ladies and gentlemen, this event is the celebration of cooperation among nations for the benefit of humankind. The most significant change over the past ten years has not been in the design or the name, nor the other thousands of details that such a grand undertaking entails. Rather, the single greatest change rests on a decision by the original partners of the government of the Russian Federation to join forces to create a single, international space station; to build both a team and a facility that serves the needs of all of humanity.
On behalf of the government of Canada and of all Canadians, I am pleased to personally welcome Russia to our partnership; and a partnership it truly is. What we all bring to this cooperative venture is an expertise that rivals all others. Be it in terms of space hardware, scientific intelligence, or the sharing of resources, the entire contribution will result in the mutual benefit of all nations.
Canada is contributing its expertise in numerous fields such as in space robotics, with the space station remote manipulator system, the new arm for the space station, and a Canada hand called the special purpose dexterous manipulator. By participating in this major undertaking, Canada will benefit not only from the advancement of its own expertise, but from the knowledge gained by the research on this on-orbit laboratory.
And as we get beyond the design and construction of the international space station, this partnership will continue and expand as we move into daily operations.
(In French.) Our contribution to the international space station reinforces the Canadian Government’s commitment to invest in knowledge, to stimulate innovation and to enhance our expertise in the field of science and technology. As a nation, Canada is proud to be contributing to an international venture, with the help of its scientists and astronauts, that will take the world’s space science and technology community further than it has ever gone before.
We look forward to having the opportunity to collaborate with Russia as well as with our other international partners as we move forward to the new millennium.
Thank you.
(Applause.)
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KIMBLE: I would now turn to Minister Ylieff of Belgium, the Chairman of the European Space Agency’s Ministerial Level Council. Mr. Ylieff.
MINISTER YLIEFF: Mr. Secretary, Honorable Ministers, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, today’s signature of the intergovernmental agreement on the international space station marks an important event in the history of space, for the future of space development and for international cooperation.
By agreeing to it, Europe emphasizes its determination to be an important player in space. We are very pleased that after long and sometimes difficult negotiations, due to the dimension and complexity of the project, we are finally about to formally sign the IGA.
Never before have so many space-faring nations pooled their interests, expertise, resources and facilities to such an extent and for such an important venture. Over the past decade, we all have invested a significant portion of our budgets in space activities, and particularly in this global enterprise.
The IGA we are signing today is taking into account the important policy changes which have occurred in the context of international space cooperation. Russia, with its vast experience in human space flight, has been brought into the partnership. Furthermore, the new IGA confirms changes made to the technical configuration of the international space station by most of the partners in recent years.
For Europe, this partnership can build upon a long tradition of productive international space cooperation; and in particular, between Europe, the United States and Canada, but also more recently, with Russia and Japan. The IGA on the international space station adds a new dimension to this cooperation. It represents a most significant commitment to mass space flights. For all partners, the international space station will create unique potential for exploring space, for utilizing the micro-gravity environment, for Earth observation and for technological developments.
The Council of the European Space Agency at the ministerial level has, at various locations, expressed a willingness to participate in the space station project. In October 1995, at Toulouse it proved a new ESA program for the purpose of developing Europe’s contribution to the space station. We are particularly pleased that the new IGA clearly reinforces the notion of genuine partnership. This concept is reflected in responsibility of Europe for development and construction of its elements on the international space station, and for its utilization.
Europe’s substantial contribution consists primarily of the development and operation of the Columbus orbital facility and the automated transport vehicle, ATV.
(In French and German.) Europe, like some other partners, will use its own space transportation system, Arian 5 in combination with the ATV for benefit of the international space station as a whole, and to assure the contribution during the exploitation phase. I am pleased that the procedure for containing the common operations costs within agreed levels has been included in the IGA. In this context, I would like to stress that on behalf of European partners, we attach the utmost importance to controlling not only the development costs of the program, but also those related to the future exploitation of the international space station.
(In French.) This scientific and technological cooperation is truly unique. As a consequence, it requires important long-term financial and international commitments. The agreement signed today is the result of four years of negotiations which will lay the foundations for this ambitious endeavor and for long-term cooperation.
I am convinced that the cooperation on the international space station will enhance the scientific, technological and economic development of all the partners involved, and that it will strengthen the close ties existing not only among the governments, but also between the peoples of Europe, North America, Russia and Japan.
I thank you very much for your attention.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KIMBLE: I would now like to invite the representative of the government of Japan, Ambassador Saito.
AMBASSADOR SAITO: Acting Secretary of State Talbott, Dr. Duhamel, Minister Ylieff, excellencies, distinguished guests, today I’d like to join you in expressing sincere congratulations on the signing of the space station cooperation agreement.
As someone who is personally interested in space development -- my favorite movie is Stanley Kubrick’s "2001: A Space Odyssey," – I’m extremely delighted and honored to take part in this ceremony, the signing of this new agreement, adding Russia, Sweden and Switzerland to our team.
The Japanese people have had a very strong interest in the development of outer space. We are inspired afresh last November by Dr. (inaudible), who was the fourth Japanese astronaut to serve as a crew member on the US space shuttle, and who performed a space walk. The information gathered from the experiences of Dr. (inaudible) and his fellow astronauts will be invaluable as we continue our progress towards the construction of the space station.
In addition to our goal of bringing the space station to fruition, I am confident that this agreement will advance general space development by encouraging the cooperation of talent from many nations, thereby broadening the overall technical knowledge base. Japan intends to continue to make its best efforts to contribute to the better utilization of outer space.
It is my sincere hope that this agreement will enable us to reaffirm the partnership among signatory countries, and foster closer cooperation in order to bring the space station into being.
Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KIMBLE: And now, on behalf of Russia, I would like to invite Ambassador Vorontsov to the podium.
AMBASSADOR VORONTSOV: Secretary Talbott, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, today by signing the Intergovernmental Agreement on cooperation in creating exploitation of international space station, we are opening up a new stage in the international exploration of outer space. This will be a phase of joint work in the outer space of specialists from many countries.
Way back in the past will stay the times of rivalry and jockeying for all kind of the first places in space. Russia is investing in the project, her achievements and unique experience of man’s space flights and laboratories. We hope that they will act as guarantors of a successful construction of the international space station.
Already this year we are planning to put into orbit the first module of the station – so to say, the first brick in the foundation of the first common home of humanity in the outer space.
Space has always been a place of concentration of high technologies. In today’s terms, perhaps, this is the most prominent project in the technological field which will determine the contours of interaction of its participants in the 21st century – and I hope not only in the outer space.
At the moment of his launch into outer space, the first Earth cosmonaut, Yury Gagarin has uttered a phrase which has become symbolic: let’s go, he said -- (in Russian). I believe that it is fully applicable to the start of our cooperation on the space station. And using the well-known words of the first man on the moon, Astronaut Neil Armstrong, I would like to add, this will be another big leap forward for the whole of mankind.
Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KIMBLE: And now the representatives of the cooperating space agencies will sign the appropriate Memoranda of Understanding.
(Applause.)
[Signing of MOU]
And now I would like to invite the representatives of these critical space agencies to the podium for a few brief remarks. First, I call on NASA Administrator Goldin.
ADMINISTRATOR GOLDIN: Acting Secretary Talbott, distinguished ministers, ambassadors, fellow colleagues, members of Congress, members of the astronaut corps, including Commander Robert Cabana, who will command the first shuttle assembly up to the international space station, ladies and gentlemen, nearly everyone in this room has been integral in making today’s agreement possible. But let me also acknowledge one person who could not be with us today. For her tireless efforts, I’d like to publicly thank Secretary Madeleine Albright.
Three hundred sixty-eight years ago, an explorer named John Winthrop looked from his ship towards the horizon of a new frontier. The new frontier happened to be the country I am privileged to represent today, and the nation that is very proud to host all of you at this historic meeting. John Winthrop looked at the land that would grow up to be America and stated, "we shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us."
These words have been quoted from time to time by some of our greatest leaders. Today I get to paraphrase them. Once again, the eyes of all people are upon us. But this time, everyone will be looking not to a city upon a hill, but a city much, much higher – a city in space. The agreement we have signed allows the nations of the world to join forces in a peaceful pursuit: the design, development, operation and utilization of the city in space, the international space station.
Just think about how the citizens of this city in space will be spending their days. They won’t be bogged down debating the anxieties of today. The scientists and engineers will be far too busy discovering the answers of tomorrow. Those answers might be the knowledge that allows us to rewrite physics, chemistry and biology textbooks. The answers might be the new technological advances that help build stronger economies here on Earth. Or perhaps the answers that come from long-duration space research might even be the amazing medical breakthrough that one day saves lives.
The international space station’s unlimited potential is matched only by what I hope is by our limitless imagination, because in addition to the possibilities I just mentioned, the international space station will also most importantly provide the promise of further exploration. As we learn to live and work together safely and efficiently in space, it is only natural that we will want to build cities even further away than Earth orbit.
If it is our destiny to explore, which I believe it is, then the international space station is the next step. But today is the first step. Every so often people come together to explore new frontiers, to inspire our children and to benefit all of humankind. It is a rare occasion, however, when it is not only the people coming together, but countries; this is such a time.
Today we chart a course for the future, and, in doing so, we will change the course of human history. What a wonderful opportunity; what a time to be alive; what a privilege to be a part of this endeavor with such great, great colleagues. And on behalf of all of us at NASA and everyone in America, I’d like to thank our international partners. Yes, the eyes of the people are upon us, but so are their hopes and dreams. And for the citizens of the city in space, indeed for the citizens of the world, this is just the beginning.
Thank you.
(Applause.)
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KIMBLE: I would now like to invite General Director Koptev of the Russian Space Agency to the podium.
DIRECTOR KOPTEV: (In Russian.) Ladies and gentlemen, first of all, I would like to congratulate all of us with this key achievement which we are all witnessing today here.
The practical exploration of outer space is not very old. It’s only forty years old. It has come through various stages, including stages of rivalry and senseless competition and senseless expenditure of resources. But what it is experiencing now is a reflection of the changes that have occurred in the world.
This is a period of the time of common sense, of joint resources which will work for the sake of the entire humanity. Today we’re drawing a conclusion of power for here cooperation.
The signing of today’s agreement to us is not only a symbol of understanding and respect of our experience in the exploration of the outer space, but also the acknowledgment of those great democratic transformations and changes through which my country is going now; the symbol of the fact that our partners can express confidence in Russia, as a great and reliable partner of the international cooperation.
Russia has made a thoughtful choice and has decided to take part in this international project. The success of this milestone, of this key project will also be contagious, so to speak, and bring success in other areas through joint resources, joint financial, technological and scientific resources, and will ensure success also in other areas.
Our contribution to this project is our long-term experience in the area of manned exploration of the outer space. We are especially satisfied with the success of our current work with our American partners within the space shuttle and Mir stations. This will ensure our fruitful cooperation in the future.
Whatever difficulties we’ll be facing and experiencing, we are committed to fully fulfilling all our international obligations and I’m confident that already in this year we will witness new launches.
The title of the document which we have just signed as heads of our space agencies contains the word, understanding. This is highly symbolic because we believe that it is only in the spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding that we can carry out such projects and it is within these guidelines that we intend to continue to work further.
I am proud to be able to participate in this great international endeavor to be able to advance further Russian interests and Russian participation. And I hope that people of the world in the future will appreciate our contribution and all that we are doing now.
Thank you very much for your attention.
(Applause.)
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KIMBLE: And I would now ask if the director of the European Space Agency, Director Rodota, would come to the podium.
DIRECTOR RODOTA: Under Secretary Talbott, ministers, ambassadors, dear guests, ladies and gentlemen, it’s a great honor for me to join today such a distinguished audience for this historical moment, as we sign the Memoranda of Understanding on the international space station between ESA and NASA.
The international space station is the largest cooperative endeavor every undertaken by space-faring nations. The importance of the cooperation that we have created at the intergovernmental level through the international space station program extends well beyond the scientific research and technological progress which we expect from this program. In fact, the program as such can serve as a model for any future space exploration and exploitation, and will certainly set a pattern for future worldwide space cooperation that will benefit generations to come.
We in ESA regard our participation in the international space station as an important contribution to the development of science and technology, and as an important means for our industry and research centers to maintain their place in the forefront of space activities. Our substantial role in the partnership aims to assure that Europe shares fully in the program’s benefits.
Among the elements that ESA will provide on behalf of its member states, I would like to mention the two most important ones: namely, the Columbus orbital facility, and the automated transfer vehicle, Arian 5.
The European participation in the international space station builds upon a successful experience of cooperation with the United States and Russia. With NASA I would like to mention the space lab program which, after 25 years of program life and 25 space flights, is reaching the end of a very successful operational life. With regard to cooperation with the Russian Space Agency, I’m convinced that our cooperation, experience in the framework of Mir is very valuable for our partnership on the international space station.
I think it is also a remarkable symbol for the doors which the cooperation on the international space station is opening. The first -- (inaudible) -- element that ESA has built and delivered for the international space station, namely the data management system for the Russian service module, has recently been handed over to our AKA partner. It was clear from the beginning that the negotiation for building up the partnership on the international space station would involve complex and sometimes difficult issues that go beyond purely technical and scientific consideration.
In the end, the important scientific, technological and political benefits which the program offers have helped to find common ground for undertaking which offers unprecedented opportunities for engineers, scientists and interest for the whole world to work together. I believe that the international agreements we have signed today constitute a solid basis for a true and genuine partnership for all the countries involved.
The Memoranda of Understanding create a formal management structure through which the cooperation between agencies will be able to work to bring the program to successful conclusion.
One of the major challenges will be the utilization of this facility. We must ensure that its capabilities fully used to the best advantage of our partners who are investing in this venture. I shall also like to reiterate the importance we attach to the control and containment of the operational costs of this station, which I’m sure is an overriding concern for all the parties involved.
Let me thank all those who have worked so hard to prepare these agreements which lay the ground for our cooperation during the next two decades. ESA is ready and determined to play its part in this challenging venture. Let’s work together and make the most of the scientific and technological capabilities of the international space station.
Thank you.
(Applause.)
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KIMBLE: And I would now invite the head of the Canadian Space Agency, President Evans, to address us.
PRESIDENT EVANS: Thank you very much, Madame Chair, Acting Secretary Talbott, ministers and distinguished guests, my fellow space agency colleagues, friends, ladies and gentlemen, madams and monsieur, I am extremely pleased to be here to sign the Memorandum of Understanding which is allowing space nations of the world to participate in the largest international science and technological effort ever undertaken.
I am particularly pleased that today we celebrate the joining of this program by Russia. I would like to express my gratitude to Yuri Koptev, who has made this possible. I would like to welcome you very much to the program.
Space station is a unique undertaking. It’s unique in many respects. A lot today has been said about the partnership arrangements that this undertaking epitomize. I’ve had the great fortune of being one of the people who was here almost ten years ago when we signed the first agreement for a space station. I can attest to the fact that we have all, all of us who have participated in this program, learned a lot about what true partnership means. We have come a long way. One of the legacies of space station will be that the nations of the world – not only just space nations, but the nations of the world will have learned how to live and work together productively for the benefit of all mankind.
It is also, of course, a unique laboratory in space. And we are all looking forward to the operation and utilization of space station, and the scientific results that will come from the work of the best minds that we collectively can bring to bear to this unique laboratory. There is no question, there is no doubt that mankind will benefit dramatically from the results of the work that will be undertaken on space station over the duration of its lifetime.
We in Canada are particularly proud to be part of this endeavor. The robotics system that Canada supplied to the space shuttle program, the -- (inaudible) -- arm, is known throughout the world, and has become a symbol of Canada’s technological prowess. The new arm that we are supplying to the space station, a critical element in the assembly and maintenance of space station, will advance the technologies of space robots and the application of those technologies on Earth.
Not only will we be supplying this equipment, but astronauts and cosmonauts from around the world will come to Canada to train and learn how to use the sophisticated robotic systems that we are supplying. In fact, in March of this year the astronauts and cosmonauts from the second expedition for space station will be in Canada, training on facilities that we have put in place. This, to me, symbolizes again the growing partnership that exists on this program. Canadian scientists and engineers will be able to undertake experiments on board this fabulous research laboratory. And so our community is well-placed to take advantage of space station.
Many of us, many of you people in this room, have participated over the years in getting space station to where it is today. This year, the first element of space station will be launched; and before the millennium, we will have permanent inhabitants in space on the international space station program.
We in Canada are very proud to be part of that. We are very proud to be part of the ceremonies today which welcome Russia to this very important project. And I would like, particularly, now to just say a word of thanks to Dan Goldin, whose vision and leadership has led us today where the major powers, the major space powers around the world, are combining their efforts, their talents to accomplish something that we could not do individually. Dan, your vision in making this happen is well appreciated.
Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KIMBLE: I would now like to invite the representative of Japan’s National Space Development Agency, President Uchida, to the podium. And I note that Japan will be signing an implementing Memorandum of Understanding with NASA at a later date.
PRESIDENT UCHIDA: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I am Isao Uchida, representing science and technologies and the National Space Development Agency of Japan, NSDJ.
It is my great pleasure to be here on this memorable day for the confirming of our will to commit to the international space station program. The 21st century will soon be upon us. In this coming era, I strongly believe space development and utilization will play more important roles for the benefit of humanity. The major space-faring nations and their agencies will unite their capabilities to press forward the frontiers of human activities in space. International space station is a symbol of progress of mankind since it will draw the curtain of the global space activities in the next century.
We, Japan, with NASA and other international partners have made our best effort to contribute to the success of the space station. Japan is developing Japanese experiment module, which will be launched in 2001 and operated over ten years. It is indeed a great honor for us to participate in such a remarkable endeavor. We will continue our effort for the progress of this important program.
Finally, I sincerely hope for the success and further growth of the international space station program.
Thank you.
(Applause.)
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KIMBLE: Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes our ceremonial part of this event. I would like to thank you all for coming, and I would like you to remain in your seats for just a couple of minutes while the signatories leave the stage. I hope to see you at our reception upstairs in a few minutes.
Thank you.
(Applause.)
[End of Document]
For additional information, link to NASA