Russia's monopoly of ISS

The Russian-made component on the International Space Station (ISS) can continue to be maintained as an independent agency after the project completes its mission and retires.

That is the information published by Russia in an annual space conference in Moscow.

ISS is expected to retire in the mid-2020s - (Photo:snowbrains.com)

'By mid-2020, our US colleagues will use up all technical resources, and Russia will have a unique opportunity to use this station, which still needs to be completed, as a International port in orbit ' , according to RIA-Novosti, quoted Vitalii Lopota President of RSC Energia Group, who is responsible for monitoring Russia's contribution on ISS.

Russia's Multi-Functional Laboratory, which has been delayed for a long time, will be completed between 2018 and 2020, but Russian officials once said the station could still be separated and operate independently of ISS.

Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama announced he would continue to maintain the space station until 2024.

Originally a cooperative project between the United States and Russia in the 1990s, ISS continuously welcomed multinational astronauts who settled for more than 13 years.