International Space Station?

The International Space Station is a massive spacecraft. It revolves around the earth. It is the home of the astronauts. The space station is also a science lab. Many countries have worked together to build it. They also work together to use it. Space is made up of many pieces. The pieces were joined in space by space. The orbit of the space station is about 250 miles above the Earth. NASA uses this channel to learn about life and work in space. These studies will help NASA explore space.

How Old Is The Space Station?

The first piece of the International Space Station was launched in 1998. The Russian rocket opened that section. After that, more pieces were added. Two years later, the station was ready for the public. The first group arrived on November 2, 2000. People have been living in the space station ever since. Over time more pieces were added. NASA and its partners around the world completed the spacecraft in 2011.

NASA experts Christina Koch and Andrew Morgan

At the end of October 2020, 240 people from 19 countries were at the International Space Station. More than 2,800 space tests have been performed.

How Big Is the Space Station?

The spacious space is as large inside as a house with five bedrooms. It has two bathrooms, a gym and a large bay window. Six people can live there. It weighs nearly a million pounds. It is large enough to cover a football field including end areas. It has science labs from the United States, Russia, Japan and Europe.

What Are Space Components?

The space station has many parts. The parts are called modules. The first modules had the necessary components to make the space channel work. The astronauts also live in those modules. Modules called "nodes" connect the parts of the channel to each other. Space labs allow astronauts to do research.

On the sides of the space channel there is a solar arrangement. These collected materials collect energy from the sun. They turn sunlight into electricity. Robot arms are attached to the outside. The arms of the robots helped to create the space station. They can also move astronauts in and out and control scientific experiments.

Airlocks in space station are like doors. The astronauts use it to get out of space.

Pull ports are similar to doors, too. Ports allow visiting spacecraft to connect to the space station. New crew members and visitors enter the station through the docks. The astronauts flew to the space station on Russian Soyuz. Workers use ports to transport goods to the station.

The ports allow visiting spacecraft to attach to the orbiter. New crews and visitors enter the station through the docking ports. Astronauts fly to the space platform on the Russian Soyuz And SpaceX. The crew members use the ports to maneuver supplies onto the station. Astronauts sometimes work outside the space laboratory. Working outside is named a spacewalk.

NASA astronaut Christina Koch is working while being held near Port 6

Astronauts sometimes work outside the space station. Working outdoors is called the spacewalk.

Why is the Space Station Important?

The space station is a revolving home. People have been living in space every day since the year 2000. Space labs are where staff members do research. This study could not have been done on Earth.

Scientists are studying what happens to humans when they live in space. NASA has learned how to keep the spacecraft operational for a long time. These lessons will be important in the future.

NASA has a plan to send people into space than ever before. Space station is one of the first steps. NASA will use the studies at the facility to find astronauts ready for the upcoming trip.