NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

When finished, the space station will be one of the brightest objects in the sky. Image Credit: NASA

The International Space Station is a large spacecraft. It orbits around Earth. It is a home where astronauts live.

The space station is also a science lab. Many countries worked together to build it. They also work together to use it.

The space station is made of many pieces. The pieces were put together in space by astronauts. The space station's orbit is about 220 miles above Earth. NASA uses the station to learn about living and working in space. These lessons will help NASA explore space.

How Old Is the Space Station?

The first piece of the International Space Station was launched in 1998. A Russian rocket launched that piece. After that, more pieces were added. Two years later, the station was ready for people. The first crew arrived in October 2000. People have lived on the space station ever since. Over time more pieces have been added. NASA plans to finish the space station in 2010.

Pictured here are members of the 17th crew to live aboard the space station. Image Credit: NASA

How Big Is the Space Station?

When the space station is finished, it will be as big inside as a house with five bedrooms. Six people will be able to live there. It will weigh almost a million pounds. It could cover a football field including the end zones. It will have science labs from the United States, Russia, Japan and Europe.

What Are the Parts of the Space Station?

The space station has many parts. The parts are called modules. The first modules included basic things to make the space station work. Those modules also provided living areas. Modules called "nodes" connect other parts. Labs on the space station let astronauts do research.

On the sides of the space station are solar arrays. These arrays collect energy from the sun. They turn it into electricity. Robot arms are attached outside. The completed station will have four arms. Some will help to build the space station. They can also move astronauts around outside. Other arms will control science experiments.

Airlocks on the space station are like doors. Astronauts use them to go outside on spacewalks.

Astronauts work in spacesuits to help build the space station. Image Credit: NASA

Docking ports are like doors, too. The ports allow visiting spacecraft to connect to the space station. New crews and visitors enter the station through the docking ports. Astronauts fly to the space station on the space shuttle. Or they can fly on a Russian Soyuz. The crew members use the ports to move supplies onto the station.

Why Is the Space Station Important?

The space station provides a home in orbit. People have lived in space every day since 2000. The space station's labs are where crew members do research. This research could not be done on Earth.

Scientists study what happens to people when they live in space. NASA has learned how to keep a spacecraft working for a long time. These lessons will be important in the future.

NASA has a plan to explore other worlds. The space station is one of the first steps. One of the next will be to return to the moon. Astronauts will build an outpost there. NASA will use lessons from the space station to build that outpost.


More About the Space Station:
International Space Station
Exploration
Now In Space: Space Station Crew



David Hitt/NASA Educational Technology Services