| Station | International Space Station |
Station Image | STS-134_International_Space_Station_after_undocking.jpg |
Station Image Alt | A rearward view of the ISS backdropped by the limb of the Earth. In view are the station's four large, gold-coloured solar array wings, two on either side of the station, mounted to a central truss structure. Further along the truss are six large, white radiators, three next to each pair of arrays. In between the solar arrays and radiators is a cluster of pressurised modules arranged in an elongated T shape, also attached to the truss. A set of blue solar arrays are mounted to the module at the aft end of the cluster. |
Station Image Size | 300px |
Extra Image Size | 300px |
Extra Image Caption | The International Space Station on 30 May 2011 as seen from the departing during STS-134. |
Insignia | ISS insignia.svg |
Insignia Size | 150px |
Insignia Caption | ISS Insignia |
Insignia Alt | A silhouette of the ISS show the Earth, within it, a orange shield with the words 'super Space Station' at the bootom. |
Sign | Alpha |
Crew | 6 Expedition 28 |
Launch | 1998 � 2012 |
Launch Pad | Baikonur LC-81/23, LC-1/5 KSC LC-39,
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Mass | 417289 kg (as of 03/09/2011) |
Length | 51 m (167.3 ft) from PMA-2 to Zvezda |
Width | 109 m (357.5 ft) along truss, arrays extended |
Height | c. 20 m (c. 66 ft) nadir � zenith, arrays forward � aft (27 November 2009) |
Volume | 837 m3 (21 March 2011) |
Pressure | 101.3 kPa (29.91 inHg, 1 atm) |
Perigee | 352 km (190 nmi) AMSL (21 March 2011) |
Apogee | 355 km (192 nmi) AMSL (21 March 2011) |
Inclination | 51.6 degrees |
Speed | 7,706.6 m/s (27,743.8 km/h, 17,239.2 mph) |
Period | 91 minutes |
In Orbit | ( ) |
Occupied | ( ) |
Orbits | ( ) |
Decay | 2 km/month |
NSSDC ID | 1998-067A |
As Of | 9 March 2011 (unless noted otherwise) |
Stats Ref | |
Configuration Image | ISS configuration 2011-05 en.svg |
Configuration Alt | The components of the ISS in an exploded diagram, with modules on-orbit highlighted in orange, and those still awaiting launch in blue or pink. |
Configuration Caption | Station elements (exploded view) |
Configuration Size | 300px |
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The International Space Station (ISS) is an internationally-developed research facility, which is being assembled in low Earth orbit and is the largest space station ever constructed. On-orbit construction of the station began in 1998 and is scheduled for completion by 2012. The station is expected to remain in operation until at least 2020, and potentially to 2028. Like many artificial satellites, the ISS can be seen from Earth with the naked eye. The ISS serves as a research laboratory that has a microgravity environment in which crews conduct experiments in biology, human biology, physics, astronomy and meteorology. The station has a unique environment for the testing of the spacecraft systems that will be required for missions to the Moon and Mars. The ISS is operated by Expedition crews, and has been continuously staffed since 2 November 2000-an uninterrupted human presence in space for the past . , the crew of Expedition 28 is aboard.
The ISS is a synthesis of several space station projects that includes the American Freedom, the Soviet/Russian Mir-2, the European Columbus and the Japanese Kibō. Budget constraints led to the merger of these projects into a single multi-national programme. The ISS project began in 1994 with the Shuttle-Mir program, and the first module of the station, Zarya, was launched in 1998 by Russia. Assembly continues, as pressurised modules, external trusses and other components are launched by American space shuttles, Russian Proton rockets and Russian Soyuz rockets. , the station consisted of 11 pressurised modules and an extensive integrated truss structure (ITS). Power is provided by 16 solar arrays mounted on the external truss, in addition to four smaller arrays on the Russian modules. The station is maintained at an orbit between 278 km (172.7 mi) and 460 km (285.8 mi) altitude, and travels at an average speed of 27,724 km (17,227 mi) per hour, completing 15.7 orbits per day.
Operated as a joint project between the five participant space agencies, the station's sections are controlled by mission control centres on the ground operated by the American National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Russian Federal Space Agency (RKA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and the European Space Agency (ESA). The ownership and use of the space station is established in intergovernmental treaties and agreements that allow the Russian Federation to retain full ownership of its own modules, with the remainder of the station allocated between the other international partners. The station is serviced by Soyuz spacecraft, Progress spacecraft, space shuttles, the Automated Transfer Vehicle and the H-II Transfer Vehicle, and has been visited by astronauts and cosmonauts from 15 different nations. The cost of the station has been estimated by ESA as -100 billion over 30 years, although other estimates range from 35 billion dollars to 160 billion dollars. The financing, research capabilities and technical design of the ISS program have been criticised because of the high cost.
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International Space Station Video
Assembly : Pressurised modules |
Module |
Assembly mission |
Launch date |
Launch system |
Nation |
Isolated view |
Notes |
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Zarya (lit. dawn) (FGB) |
1A/R |
November 20, 1998 |
Proton-K |
Russia (builder) USA (financier) |
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The first component of the ISS to be launched, Zarya provided electrical power, storage, propulsion, and guidance during initial assembly. The module now serves as a storage compartment, both inside the pressurised section and in the externally mounted tanks which hold over 5.4 tons of fuel. |
Unity (Node 1) |
2A |
4 December 1998 |
Space Shuttle , STS-88 |
USA |
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The first node module, connecting the American section of the station to the Russian section (via PMA-1), and providing berthing locations for the Z1 truss, Quest airlock, Destiny laboratory, Tranquility node and the PMM Leonardo. |
Zvezda (lit. star) (service module) |
1R |
12 July 2000 |
Proton-K |
Russia |
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The station's service module, which provides the main living quarters for resident crews, environmental systems and attitude & orbit control. The module also provides additional docking locations for Soyuz spacecraft, Progress spacecraft and the Automated Transfer Vehicle, and its addition rendered the ISS permanently habitable for the first time. |
Destiny (US laboratory) |
5A |
7 February 2001 |
Space Shuttle , STS-98 |
USA |
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The primary research facility for US payloads aboard the ISS, Destiny is intended for general experiments. The module houses 24 International Standard Payload Racks, some of which are used for environmental systems and crew daily living equipment. Destiny also serves as the mounting point for most of the station's Integrated Truss Structure. |
Quest (joint airlock) |
7A |
12 July 2001 |
Space Shuttle Atlantis, STS-104 |
USA |
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The USOS airlock, Quest hosts spacewalks with both US EMU and Russian Orlan spacesuits. Quest consists of two segments; the equipment lock, that stores spacesuits and equipment, and the crew lock, from which astronauts can exit into space. This module has a separately controlled atmosphere. Crew sleep in this module, breathing a low nitrogen mixture the night before scheduled EVAs, to avoid decompression sickness (known as "the bends") in the low pressure suits. |
Pirs (lit. pier) (docking compartment) |
4R |
14 September 2001 |
Soyuz-U, Progress M-SO1 |
Russia |
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Pirs provides the ISS with additional docking ports for Soyuz and Progress spacecraft, and allows egress and ingress for spacewalks by cosmonauts using Russian Orlan spacesuits, in addition to providing storage space for these spacesuits. |
Harmony (node 2) |
10A |
23 October 2007 |
Space Shuttle , STS-120 |
Europe (builder) USA (operator) |
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The second of the station's node modules, Harmony is the utility hub of the ISS. The module contains four racks that provide electrical power, bus electronic data, and acts as a central connecting point for several other components via its six Common Berthing Mechanisms (CBMs). The European Columbus and Japanese Kibō laboratories are permanently berthed to the module, and American Space Shuttle Orbiters dock with the ISS via PMA-2, attached to Harmonys forward port. |
Columbus (European laboratory) |
1E |
7 February 2008 |
Space Shuttle Atlantis, STS-122 |
Europe |
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The primary research facility for European payloads aboard the ISS, Columbus provides a generic laboratory as well as facilities specifically designed for biology, biomedical research and fluid physics. Several mounting locations are affixed to the exterior of the module, which provide power and data to external experiments such as the European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF), Solar Monitoring Observatory, Materials International Space Station Experiment, and Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space. A number of expansions are planned for the module to study quantum physics and cosmology. |
Kibō Experiment Logistics Module (lit. hope and wish JEM � ELM) |
1J/A |
11 March 2008 |
Space Shuttle Endeavour, STS-123 |
Japan |
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Part of the Kibō Japanese Experiment Module laboratory, the ELM provides storage and transportation facilities to the laboratory with a pressurised section to serve internal payloads. |
Kibō Pressurised Module (JEM � PM) |
1J |
31 May 2008 |
Space Shuttle Discovery, STS-124 |
Japan |
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Part of the Kibō Japanese Experiment Module laboratory, the PM is the core module of Kibō to which the ELM and Exposed Facility are berthed. The laboratory is the largest single ISS module and contains a total of 23 racks, including 10 experiment racks. The module is used to carry out research in space medicine, biology, Earth observations, materials production, biotechnology, and communications research. The PM also serves as the mounting location for an external platform, the Exposed Facility (EF), that allows payloads to be directly exposed to the harsh space environment. The EF is serviced by the module's own robotic arm, the JEM � RMS, which is mounted on the PM. |
Poisk (lit. 'search') (mini-research module 2) |
5R |
10 November 2009 |
Soyuz-U, Progress M-MIM2 |
Russia |
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Poisk is the second Russian airlock for spacewalks, almost identical to Pirs, but lacking Strela cargo cranes. It is one of the four main Russian docking ports for Soyuz and Progress spacecraft, and is used as an interface for scientific experiments. |
Tranquility (node 3) |
20A |
8 February 2010 |
Space Shuttle Endeavour, STS-130 |
Europe (builder) USA (operator) |
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The third and last of the station's US nodes, Tranquility contains an advanced life support system to recycle waste water for crew use and generate oxygen for the crew to breathe. The node also provides four berthing locations for more attached pressurised modules or crew transportation vehicles, in addition to the permanent berthing location for the station's Cupola. |
Cupola |
20A |
8 February 2010 |
Space Shuttle Endeavour, STS-130 |
Europe (builder) USA (operator) |
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The Cupola is an observatory module that provides ISS crew members with a direct view of robotic operations and docked spacecraft, as well as an observation point for watching the Earth. The module comes equipped with robotic workstations for operating the SSRMS and shutters to protect its windows from damage caused by micrometeorites. It features a 80 cm (31.5 in) round window, the largest window on the station. |
Rassvet (lit. dawn) (mini-research module 1) |
ULF4 |
14 May 2010 |
Space Shuttle Atlantis, STS-132 |
Russia |
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Rassvet is being used for docking and cargo storage aboard the station. |
Leonardo (Permanent Multipurpose Module) |
ULF5 |
24 February 2011 |
Space Shuttle Discovery, STS-133 |
Italy (Builder) USA (Operator) |
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The Leonardo PMM houses spare parts and supplies, allowing longer times between resupply missions and freeing space in other modules, particularly Columbus. The PMM was created by converting the Italian Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module into a module that could be permanently attached to the station. The arrival of the PMM module marked the completion of the US Orbital Segment. |
Space stations and habitats