ISS

Extracted Attributes

• Type

  Space Station

• Speed

  17,500 mph (28,000 kph)

• Segments

  Russian Orbital Segment (ROS), US Orbital Segment (USOS)

• Orbit Time

  Approximately 93 minutes

• Distinction

  Largest space station ever constructed

• Design Period

  1984-1993

• Orbits per day

  15.5

• Original Intent

  Laboratory, observatory, factory, transportation, low Earth orbit staging base

• Primary Purpose

  Scientific experiments in microgravity, studying the space environment

• Average Altitude

  400 kilometers (250 miles)

• De-orbiting Method

  US Deorbit Vehicle

• Expected Operational End

  End of 2030

• Continuous Human Presence

  Since 2000-11-02

• Visitors (as of August 2025)

  290 individuals from 26 countries

• Additional Roles (2010 US National Space Policy)

  Commercial, diplomatic, educational purposes

Timeline

• Design of the International Space Station began. (Source: Web Search Results (nasa.gov/international-space-station/))

  1984

• Construction of the ISS began, and the first module was launched. (Source: Provided Summary, Wikipedia)

  1998

• Long-term occupancy began with the arrival of the Expedition 1 crew, initiating continuous human presence on the ISS. (Source: Provided Summary, Wikipedia)

  2000-11-02

• As of this date, 290 individuals from 26 countries had visited the International Space Station. (Source: Provided Summary, Wikipedia)

  2025-08

• The International Space Station is expected to remain operational until the end of this year. (Source: Provided Summary, Wikipedia)

  2030

• At least one new module, Axiom Space's Payload Power Thermal Module, is planned for addition to the ISS. (Source: Provided Summary, Wikipedia)

  Future

• The International Space Station will be de-orbited using the US Deorbit Vehicle. (Source: Provided Summary, Wikipedia)

  Post-2030

International Space Station

The International Space Station (ISS) is a large space station that was assembled and is maintained in low Earth orbit by a collaboration of five space agencies and their contractors: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada). As the largest space station ever constructed, it primarily serves as a platform for conducting scientific experiments in microgravity and studying the space environment. The station is divided into two main sections: the Russian Orbital Segment (ROS), developed by Roscosmos, and the US Orbital Segment (USOS), built by NASA, ESA, JAXA, and CSA. A striking feature of the ISS is the Integrated Truss Structure, which connect the station's vast system of solar panels and radiators to its pressurized modules. These modules support diverse functions, including scientific research, crew habitation, storage, spacecraft control, and airlock operations. The ISS has eight docking and berthing ports for visiting spacecraft. The station orbits the Earth at an average altitude of 400 kilometres (250 miles) and circles the Earth in roughly 93 minutes, completing 15.5 orbits per day. The ISS programme combines two previously planned crewed Earth-orbiting stations: the United States' Space Station Freedom and the Soviet Union's Mir-2. The first ISS module was launched in 1998, with major components delivered by Proton and Soyuz rockets and the Space Shuttle. Long-term occupancy began on 2 November 2000, with the arrival of the Expedition 1 crew. Since then, the ISS has remained continuously inhabited for 24 years and 356 days, the longest continuous human presence in space. As of August 2025, 290 individuals from 26 countries had visited the station. Future plans for the ISS include the addition of at least one module, Axiom Space's Payload Power Thermal Module. The station is expected to remain operational until the end of 2030, after which it will be de-orbited using the US Deorbit Vehicle.

Web Search Results

• International Space Station

  The International Space Station (ISS) is a large space station that was assembled and is maintained in low Earth orbit by a collaboration of five space agencies and their contractors: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada). As the largest space station ever constructed, it primarily serves as a platform for conducting scientific experiments in microgravity and studying the space environment. [...] The ISS was originally intended to be a laboratory, observatory, and factory while providing transportation, maintenance, and a low Earth orbit staging base for possible future missions to the Moon, Mars, and asteroids. However, not all of the uses envisioned in the initial memorandum of understanding between NASA and Roscosmos have been realised. In the 2010 United States National Space Policy, the ISS was given additional roles of serving commercial, diplomatic, and educational purposes. [...] The ISS programme combines two previously planned crewed Earth-orbiting stations: the United States' Space Station Freedom and the Soviet Union's Mir-2. The first ISS module "Zarya (ISS module)") was launched in 1998, with major components delivered by Proton "Proton (rocket family)") and Soyuz "Soyuz (rocket family)") rockets and the Space Shuttle. Long-term occupancy began on 2 November 2000, with the arrival of the Expedition 1 crew. Since then, the ISS has remained continuously inhabited

• International Space Station — Everything you need to know

  The ISS is a platform for long-term research for human health, which NASA bills as a key stepping stone to letting humans explore other solar system destinations such as the moon or Mars. Related: First 'Guardian' in space: NASA astronaut on ISS enters Space Force [...] The International Space Station, or ISS, is an orbital laboratory and has hosted more than 250 people since 1998. Comments (0) () The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest single structure humans ever put into space. (Image credit: NASA Johnson) Jump to: [...] The International Space Station was taken into space piece-by-piece and gradually built in orbit using spacewalking astronauts and robotics. Most missions used NASA's space shuttle to carry up the heavier pieces, although some individual modules were launched on single-use rockets. The ISS includes modules and connecting nodes that contain living quarters and laboratories, as well as exterior trusses that provide structural support, and solar panels that provide power.

• Spot The Station

  The International Space Station is a convergence of science, technology, and human innovation that enables research not possible on Earth for the benefit of humanity. For over 25 years, NASA has supported a continuous U.S. human presence aboard the station, through which astronauts have learned to live and work in space for extended periods of time. Learn More about International Space Station [...] The space station appears similar to an airplane or a very bright star moving across the night sky, except it does not have flashing lights or change direction. It also moves faster than a typical airplane (airplanes fly at about 600 mph (965 kph); the space station flies at 17,500 mph (28,000 kph)). ## International Space Station [...] The International Space Station pictured in this 30-second exposure image over Elkton, Virginia, on Aug. 1, 2015 (Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls). # How do I spot the International Space Station?

• Live High-Definition Views from the International Space ...

  The space station orbits Earth about 250 miles (425 kilometers) above the surface. An international partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries operates the station, and it has been continuously occupied since November 2000. It's a microgravity laboratory where science, research, and human innovation make way for new technologies and research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. More:

• International Space Station

  The International Space Station Program brings together international flight crews, multiple launch vehicles, globally distributed launch and flight operations, training, engineering, and development facilities, communications networks, and the international scientific research community. Read More about About the International Space Station [...] The International Space Station is humanity’s home in space and a research station orbiting about 250 miles above the Earth. Learn more about astronaut health and training. ## Media 10 Images # To view more images, visit the Space Station Gallery. ## Space Station Videos A YouTube playlist containing a variety of videos about the International Space Station. Watch More Videos about Space Station Videos @ISS@NASAes @Space\_Station@NASA\_es @ISS@NASA@NASA\_es Keep Exploring [...] ### INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ## About the International Space Station The station was designed between 1984 and 1993. Elements of the station were in construction throughout the US, Canada, Japan, and Europe beginning in the late 1980s.

• Instance Of

  Q4167410