NASA: Space station to grow faster

HOUSTON, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- NASA says the International Space Station will grow faster in size, power and mass this year, expanding capabilities and setting records.

"This will be a challenging but rewarding, year for the station program," said Kirk Shireman, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's deputy program manager for the ISS. "The station's operations will grow both in orbit and on Earth."

In addition to control centers in the United States, Russia and Canada, ISS control centers will be activated in France, Germany and Japan.

NASA and Russia plan as many as 24 spacewalks this year -- more than has ever been done in a single year. The first spacewalk began Wednesday morning and, by the end of Expedition 14 in April, Mike Lopez-Alegria should lead all astronauts in the number of spacewalks and the amount of time spent spacewalking.

Records expected to be set by August include the longest time in space and the most spacewalks by a woman, NASA said.

Also this year, the station's power supply, laboratory space, robotics capabilities and living quarters will also increase.