The space station is one of the brightest objects in the sky.
Image Credit: NASA
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Celebrating Fifteen Years of the International Space
Station
Astronaut James H. Newman waves during a spacewalk preparing for release of
the first combined elements of the International Space Station. The
Russian-built Zarya module, with its solar array panel visible here, was
launched into orbit fifteen years ago on Nov. 20, 1998. Two weeks later, on Dec.
4, 1998, NASA's space shuttle Endeavour launched Unity, the first U.S. piece of
the complex. Endeavour's forward section is reflected in Newman's helmet visor
in this image. During three spacewalks on the STS-88 mission, the two space
modules built on opposite sides of the planet were joined together in space,
making the space station truly international.
Since that first meeting of Zarya and Unity, the space station grew piece by
piece with additions from each of the international partners built across three
continents and leading to the largest and most complex spacecraft ever
constructed. The space station, now four times larger than Mir and five times
larger than Skylab, represents a collaboration between NASA, Roscosmos, the
European Space Agency, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency and the
Canadian Space Agency, representing 15 countries in all.
In support of station assembly and maintenance, station and shuttle crews
have conducted 174 spacewalks totaling almost 1,100 hours – the equivalent to
nearly 46 days of spacewalks to build and maintain the complex. The station,
with a mass of almost a million pounds and the size of a football field, is
second only to the moon as the brightest object in the night sky.
Over the years, a great deal of research has been done on the space
laboratory, which has already yielded tremendous results toward various fields.
The science of the space station has provided benefits to humankind in areas
such as human health, Earth observation and education. Many more results and
benefits for both space exploration and life on Earth are expected in the coming
years.
Image Credit: NASA
International Space Station Features
The One-Year Crew
NASA and the Russian Federal Space Agency have named veteran spacefarers Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko for a one-year mission aboard the station in 2015.
Take a Tour of the ISS with Suni Williams
In her final days as commander of the International Space Station, Suni Williams recorded an extensive tour of the orbital laboratory. The tour includes scenes of each of the station's modules and research facilities.
A Day in the Life Aboard the Station
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live and work in space? Follow astronauts on the International Space Station in a series of videos as they explain their daily routines.
A Lab Aloft: The Space Station Research Blog
Take a look behind-the-scenes with the scientists and researchers who are conducting experiments on board the International Space Station.
Destination: Station
Destination Station promotes research opportunities, educates communities and communicates the impacts of the station on our everyday lives.
Space Station News Releases
What Is the International Space Station?
The space station is one of the brightest objects in the sky.
Image Credit: NASA
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The International Space Station is a large spacecraft. It orbits around Earth. It is a home where astronauts live.
The space station is also a science lab. Many countries worked together to build it. They also work together to use it.
The space station is made of many pieces. The pieces were put together in space by astronauts. The space station's orbit is about 220 miles above Earth. NASA uses the station to learn about living and working in space. These lessons will help NASA explore space.
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 in October 2000. People have lived on the space station ever since. Over time more pieces have been added. NASA and its partners around the world finished the space station in 2011.
How Big Is the Space Station?
The space station is made of many pieces. The pieces were put together in space by astronauts. The space station's orbit is about 220 miles above Earth. NASA uses the station to learn about living and working in space. These lessons will help NASA explore space.
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 in October 2000. People have lived on the space station ever since. Over time more pieces have been added. NASA and its partners around the world finished the space station in 2011.
How Big Is the Space Station?
Pictured here are members of the 17th crew to live aboard the space station.
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The space station is as big inside as a house with five bedrooms. It has two bathrooms, a gymnasium and a big bay window. Six people are able to live there. It weighs almost a million pounds. It is big enough to cover a football field including the end zones. It has science labs from the United States, Russia, Japan and Europe.
What Are the Parts of the Space Station?
The space station has many parts. The parts are called modules. The first modules had parts needed to make the space station work. Astronauts also lived in those modules. Modules called "nodes" connect parts of the station to each other. Labs on the space station let astronauts do research.
On the sides of the space station are solar arrays. These arrays collect energy from the sun. They turn sunlight into electricity. Robot arms are attached outside. The robot arms helped to build the space station. They also can move astronauts around outside and control science experiments.
Airlocks on the space station are like doors. Astronauts use them to go outside on spacewalks.
Docking ports are like doors, too. The ports allow visiting spacecraft to connect to the space station. New crews and visitors enter the station through the docking ports. Astronauts fly to the space station on the Russian Soyuz. The crew members use the ports to move supplies onto the station.
Why Is the Space Station Important?
What Are the Parts of the Space Station?
The space station has many parts. The parts are called modules. The first modules had parts needed to make the space station work. Astronauts also lived in those modules. Modules called "nodes" connect parts of the station to each other. Labs on the space station let astronauts do research.
On the sides of the space station are solar arrays. These arrays collect energy from the sun. They turn sunlight into electricity. Robot arms are attached outside. The robot arms helped to build the space station. They also can move astronauts around outside and control science experiments.
Airlocks on the space station are like doors. Astronauts use them to go outside on spacewalks.
Docking ports are like doors, too. The ports allow visiting spacecraft to connect to the space station. New crews and visitors enter the station through the docking ports. Astronauts fly to the space station on the Russian Soyuz. The crew members use the ports to move supplies onto the station.
Why Is the Space Station Important?
Astronauts work in spacesuits to help build the space station.
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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 has a plan to send humans deeper into space than ever before. The space station is one of the first steps. NASA will use lessons from the space station to get astronauts ready for the journey ahead.
More About the Space Station:
› Kids Zone 3: International Space Station
› Now in Space: Who's on the Space Station?
Read What Is the International Space Station? Grades 5-8
Return to Homework Topics Grades K-4
David Hitt/NASA Educational Technology Services
NASA
Guillermo Gonzalo Sánchez Achutegui
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