Related topics: space station , nasa , space shuttle discovery , space , shuttle
International Space Station
hideThe International Space Station (ISS) is an internationally developed research facility currently being assembled in Low Earth Orbit. On-orbit construction of the station began in 1998 and is scheduled to be complete by 2011, with operations continuing until at least 2015. As of 2009[update], the ISS is the largest artificial satellite in Earth orbit, with a mass larger than that of any previous space station.
The ISS is a joint project among the space agencies of the United States (National Aeronautics and Space Administration—NASA), Russia (Russian Federal Space Agency—RKA), Japan (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency—JAXA), Canada (Canadian Space Agency—CSA) and ten European nations (European Space Agency—ESA).[a] The Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) participates through a separate contract with NASA. The Italian Space Agency (ASI) similarly has separate contracts for various activities not done within the framework of ESA's ISS projects (where Italy also fully participates). China has reportedly expressed interest in the project, especially if it would be able to work with the RKA, although as of 2009[update] it is not involved due to objections from the United States.
The space station can be seen from Earth with the naked eye, orbiting at an altitude of approximately 350 kilometres (220 mi) above the surface of the Earth, travelling at an average speed of 27,724 kilometres (17,227 mi) per hour, completing 15.7 orbits per day.
The ISS has been continuously staffed since the first resident crew, Expedition 1, entered the station on 2 November 2000. This has provided an uninterrupted human presence in space for the last &0000000000000008.0000008 years, &0000000000000269.000000269 days. Prior to May 2009, the station had the capacity for a crew of three. However, to fulfil an active research programme, since the arrival of Expedition 20, it has been staffed by a resident crew of six. The crew of Expedition 20 is currently aboard.
Early crew members all came from the American and Russian space programmes until German ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter joined the Expedition 13 crew in July 2006. The station has been visited by astronauts from 16 different nations, and it was the destination of the first six space tourists.
For more information about International Space Station, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
News tagged with international space station
Planet 51 Star Brings NASA's Message of Exploration Down to Earth
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
7 hours ago |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Actor Dwayne Johnson, usually known for his action and comedic film roles, takes to the stars as an astronaut in a new animated feature that brings important messages about the importance of space exploration ...
Astronauts await word of baby girl on Earth
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
9 hours ago |
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(AP) -- Atlantis' astronauts anxiously awaited word on the birth of one crewman's daughter Friday, as they moved more supplies into the International Space Station and geared up for another spacewalk.
Astronauts get extra moving time at space station
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
15 hours ago |
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(AP) -- The astronauts aboard the shuttle-station complex are getting some extra moving time.
Astronauts get extra work done in 1st spacewalk (Update)
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 19, 2009 |
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(AP) -- A pair of spacewalking astronauts, one of them a surgeon, hustled through antenna and cable work outside the International Space Station on Thursday and even whipped off an extra chore.
Shuttle docks at space station, unloads parts (Update 2)
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 18, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Space shuttle Atlantis arrived at the International Space Station on Wednesday for a weeklong stay, and the astronauts quickly unloaded a huge platform full of spare parts needed to keep the outpost ...
Astronauts inspect space shuttle in case of damage
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 17, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Space shuttle Atlantis' astronauts scoured their ship Tuesday for any signs of launch damage while pursuing the International Space Station.
Space shuttle Atlantis lifts off on supply mission
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 16, 2009 |
3.5 / 5 (2) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Space shuttle Atlantis and its six-member crew began an 11-day delivery flight to the International Space Station on Monday with a 2:28 p.m. EST launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in ...
NASA fuels space shuttle Atlantis for liftoff
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 16, 2009 |
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(AP) -- NASA is fueling space shuttle Atlantis for its afternoon liftoff.
Geeky 'tweeters' to report on space shuttle launch
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 15, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Fingers will be flying when space shuttle Atlantis blasts off Monday: About 100 of NASA's geekiest fans will be on hand, pecking away at iPhones, BlackBerrys, laptops and other Twittering gadgets.
NASA on track for Monday space shuttle launch
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 14, 2009 |
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(AP) -- NASA has cleared space shuttle Atlantis for liftoff Monday on a trip to stock up the International Space Station with several years' worth of spare parts.
Goddard Team Develops New Carriers for ISS
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 13, 2009 |
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In a partnership that exemplifies the One NASA theme, Goddard Space Flight Center engineers teamed up with the External Payloads Group at Johnson Space Center and the ISS Payload Ground Processing support ...
Atlantis Launch Countdown Begins Today
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 13, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- At today's launch countdown status briefing held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, managers reported space shuttle Atlantis, its payload and crew are ready for launch at 2:28 p.m. ...
Nanotech in Space: Rensselaer Experiment To Weather the Trials of Orbit
Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials
Nov 12, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Novel nanomaterials developed at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are scheduled to blast off into orbit on November 16 aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis.
Space station gets new research module
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 12, 2009 |
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(AP) -- A cargo ship has delivered a Russian research module to the International Space Station.
Rocket with new module for space station blasts off
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 10, 2009 |
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A Soyuz rocket carrying a new Russian-made module for the International Space Station blasted off on Tuesday from the Baikonur space base in Kazakhstan, television pictures showed.
