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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
Astronauts dock at International Space Station
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Dec 22, 2009 |
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A Russian rocket carrying three astronauts from Japan, Russia and the United States docked at the International Space Station Wednesday, the Russian flight control centre said.
Astronauts blast off for Christmas space mission
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Dec 20, 2009 |
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(AP) -- A Russian rocket blasted off from a cosmodrome in Kazakhstan lighting up the frigid Central Asian steppe Monday, shuttling an American, a Russian and a Japanese to the International Space Station.
Astronauts to carry Christmas cheer to ISS
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Dec 19, 2009 |
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Despite being separated from their families, astronauts heading to the International Space Station next week are excited to be spending Christmas in space, a crew member said Saturday.
ISS astronauts land safely in Kazakhstan
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Dec 01, 2009 |
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A space capsule carrying a Belgian, a Canadian and a Russian landed safely in the steppes of Kazakhstan on Tuesday after the trio spent half a year on the International Space Station (ISS).
Japan's 'space beer' sparkles among drinkers
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Dec 07, 2009 |
3.2 / 5 (6) |
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A Japanese brewer has come up with a beer that's truly out of this world -- one made with barley grown from a line of seeds that once orbited the Earth aboard the International Space Station.
NASA: Floating 'junk' no threat to space station
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 28, 2009 |
4.7 / 5 (3) |
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(AP) -- NASA says a piece of old space junk that it's been tracking for a few days is no threat to the International Space Station.
Prof gets messages from space
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Dec 08, 2009 |
4.3 / 5 (6) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Barbara Frisken received several messages from outer space this year on her answering machine.
Steering the Ares Rockets on a Straight Path
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Dec 04, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- The Ares I-X rocket stood more than 325 feet tall on the launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Spectators watched in awe as its massive solid rocket motor blazed to life with a thunderous ...
Astronauts to taste 'space sushi'
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Dec 03, 2009 |
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US astronaut Timothy Creamer said on Thursday he was impatient to taste "space sushi" courtesy of his Japanese crewmate after they arrive on the International Space Station (ISS) later this month.
Space shuttle Atlantis, 7 astronauts back on Earth
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 27, 2009 |
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Space shuttle Atlantis and its crew of seven astronauts ended an 11-day journey of nearly 4.5 million miles with a 9:44 a.m. EST landing Friday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
NRL's MISSE7 launched aboard STS-129
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Dec 07, 2009 |
4 / 5 (1) |
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The Materials on the International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) 7, designed and built by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), launched aboard STS-129 on November, 16, for transport to the International ...
