Russia, US to go ahead with International Space Station

Charles Bolden, head of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, confirmed Thursday that the two countries will continue to work closely together on space station operations.

The international space station "continues to be the perfect role model" for cooperation between Russia and the US, Bolden told a House panel Thursday, confirming that Russia remained committed to keeping the International Space operating through 2024.

The statement by America's top space official came against the backdrop of recent diplomatic clashes between Moscow and Washington.

Russia's space agency Roscosmos and NASA agreed late March to extend the orbiting laboratory's service life through 2024.