ISS
Program Overview
The International Space Station (ISS) is a permanently crewed orbital laboratory and multinational research facility that serves as a cornerstone of international cooperation in space. Built and operated by five principal space agencies—NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada)—the ISS orbits the Earth approximately every 90 minutes and supports continuous human presence in space since November 2000.
Objectives
The ISS program supports a broad range of goals:
Conducting long-duration scientific research in microgravity across disciplines such as biology, physics, medicine, and materials science.
Advancing space technology and systems for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Fostering international collaboration and peaceful use of outer space.
Educating and inspiring the global public through outreach and STEM initiatives.
Key Details
- Assembly Start: November 20, 1998 (launch of Zarya module)
- Permanent Occupation: Since November 2, 2000
- Orbital Altitude: ~400 km (248 miles)
- Orbital Inclination: 51.6 degrees
- Orbits per Day: ~16
- Partners: NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, CSA
Structure
The ISS consists of multiple pressurized modules for crew and experiments, external truss structures for power and thermal control, and visiting vehicles for crew and cargo. Major modules include the U.S. Destiny Lab, Russian Zvezda and Nauka, ESA’s Columbus, JAXA’s Kibo, and docking ports for spacecraft such as Crew Dragon, Soyuz, Cygnus, and Progress.
Crew
The ISS typically hosts 6–7 international astronauts at a time, rotating every ~6 months. Crew members conduct experiments, perform maintenance, support EVAs (spacewalks), and operate visiting vehicles.
Achievements
The ISS has enabled over two decades of continuous human research in space, supported over 3,000 experiments from more than 100 countries, and played a key role in advancing medical knowledge, spaceflight systems, and planetary mission readiness. It is the largest human-made object in space and one of the most ambitious engineering projects in history.
Future
Current international agreements support ISS operations through at least 2030. The station will serve as a key platform for transitioning to commercial low-Earth orbit destinations and supporting the Artemis program’s lunar and Mars exploration goals.
Visiting Vehicles
- Crewed: Crew Dragon, Soyuz
- Cargo: Cygnus, Cargo Dragon, Progress, HTV-X (planned)
