There are “real benefits” in keeping mankind in space despite the huge costs according to a senior official from the US space programme NASA who was recently speaking at a meeting of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in New York.

The International Space Station or ISS has been in orbit over the planet for more than 18 years and on board scientists are continuing to carry out experiments in human and plant biology as well as physics and astronomy.

Some reports have put the cost of the space station at more than US$150 billion.

William Gerstenmaier is NASA’s Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations.

He began by telling Daniel Dickinson about the environmental credentials of the ISS.

Duration: 3’40”