eatfastnoodle wrote:
On Nov 17, 3:50 pm,

whatever form it might take, the ISS still needs a boat load of money
to operate, money that neither the administration nor the congress is
willing to provide. I simply don't see anybody other than the
government to pick up such a large, from a business point of view,
unprofitable tab.

Its funding is probably secure till 2015, but I doubt there is much
chance it will go beyond that, although Russia wants to keep it up till
2020, and ESA and JAXA don't seem adverse to that idea either...if it
can be done at a fairly low cost.
A possible wild card was added today with Obama saying there is going to
be US/Chinese cooperation in space:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-10399964-76.html
Shenzhou should be able to be modified to dock with the ISS without much
trouble, but the very low Chinese launch rate up to the moment makes one
wonder if they would consider that worth the effort and money to do even
if the ISS were to be kept up till 2020.

Pat