THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

What is the International Space Station?

The International Space Station (ISS) is a large spacecraft in orbit around Earth. It serves as a home where crews of astronauts and cosmonauts live. The space station is also a unique science laboratory. Several nations worked together to build and use the space station. The space station is made of parts that astronauts joined in space. It orbits Earth at an average altitude of 220 miles. It travels at 17,500 mph. This means it orbits Earth every 90 minutes. NASA is using the space station to learn more about living and working in space. These lessons will make it possible to send humans farther into space than ever before.

How Old is the Space Station?

The first piece of the International Space Station was launched in 1998. A Russian rocket launched that piece. After that, more pieces were added. Two years later, the station was ready for people. The first crew arrived on November 2, 2000. People have lived on the space station ever since. Over time, astronauts have added more pieces. NASA and its partners around the world finished the space station in 2011.

How Big is the Space Station?

The space station is like a five-bedroom house or two Boeing 747 jetliners. It is able to support a crew of six people, plus visitors. On Earth, the space station would weigh almost a million pounds. The station covers the area of a football field including the end zones. It includes laboratory modules from the United States, Russia, Japan and Europe.

Why is the Space Station Important?

The space station is a home in orbit. People have lived in space every day since the year 2000. The space station’s labs are where crew members do research. This research could not be done on Earth. Scientists study what happens to people when they live in space. NASA has learned how to keep a spacecraft working for a long time. These lessons will be important in the future. NASA is working on a plan to explore other worlds around these days. The space station is one of the first steps. The lessons Nasa have learnt on the space station are important because NASA will prepare humans for missions that reach farther into space than ever before.