Jules Verne At ISS

The European Space Agency's unmanned cargo ship, the Jules Verne, has successfully docked at ISS. Jules Verne is the first of a fleet of such cargo ships ESA will use to resupply ISS.

Not only will that cut the cost of resupplying ISS, but after the American shuttles are retired in 2010, maintaining ISS will fall to the Russians and the Europeans. NASA is exploring the possibility of contracting with private companies to ferry cargo to and astronauts to and from ISS in the period between the space shuttle and the new Orion spacecraft, but, so far, none of those private craft exist.

Likely, the United States will build the International Space Station, but maintaining it as a working outpost in orbit will be up to the international partners.