International Space Station Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation 2001

The Jury for the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation 2001, convened in Oviedo, comprising Enrique Álvarez, María Jesús Álvarez González, Gonzalo Anes y Álvarez de Castrillón, Agustín Antuña, Alejandro Echevarría, José Antonio Garrido Martínez, Antonio Garrigues Walker, Laura González Álvarez, Luis Lada Díaz, Ricardo Martí Fluxá, Marcelino Oreja Aguirre, Francisco Pinto Balsemão, Luis Ruiz de Gopegui Miguel, Nicolás Sartorius, Alfonso de la Serna, Gustavo Suárez Pertierra, Juan Vázquez, chaired by Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo and with Teodoro López-Cuesta as secretary, has decided by majority vote to grant the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation 2001 to the International Space Station.

The jury wish to express their acknowledgement of the efforts to achieve international cooperation that have been necessary to turn this enormous orbiting laboratory for scientific research for a greater understanding of our planet into a reality.

The jury also wishes to acknowledge that international cooperation to construct the Space Station is a major breakthrough in the face of the dangers that threaten life on Earth.

Over 20,000 technicians from twenty different countries have taken part in the project. The jury wish to embody the symbolism of the Award in the Space Agencies of the USA, Russia, Japan and Europe, given the outstanding role they have played in a task that is of momentous importance to mankind.

Oviedo, 13th June 2001