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International Space Station

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International Space Station
A rearward view of the International Space Station backdropped by the limb of the Earth. In view are the station's four large, gold-coloured solar array wings, two on either side of the station, mounted to a central truss structure. Further along the truss are six large, white radiators, three next to each pair of arrays. In between the solar arrays and radiators is a cluster of pressurised modules arranged in an elongated T shape, also attached to the truss. A set of blue solar arrays are mounted to the module at the aft end of the cluster.
ISS ofSTS-132
The flags of the participating countries: United States, United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Brazil, Japan, Norway, and Russia.
Station statistics
SATCATno.25544
Call signAlpha,Station
CrewFully crewed: 3-6
Currently aboard: 7
(Expedition68)
Launch20 November 1998;25 years ago(1998-11-20)
Launch pad
Mass≈ 419,725 kg (925,335 lb)[1]
Length72.8 m (239 ft)
Width108.5 m (356 ft)
Height≈ 20 m (66 ft)
nadir–zenith, arrays forward–aft
(27 November 2009)[needs update]
Pressurisedvolume931.57 m3(32,898 cu ft)[2]
(28 May 2016)
Atmospheric pressure101.3kPa(29.9inHg;1.0atm)
Perigee408 km (253.5 mi)AMSL[3]
Apogee410 km (254.8 mi) AMSL[3]
Orbital inclination51.64°[3]
Orbital speed7.66 km/s[3]
(27,600 km/h; 17,100 mph)
Orbital period92.68 minutes[3]
Orbits per day15.54[3]
Orbitepoch14 May 2019 13:09:29 UTC[3]
Days in orbit25 years, 7 months, 27 days
(18 July 2024)
Days occupied23 years, 8 months, 15 days
(18 July 2024)
No.of orbits116,178 as of May 2019[3]
Orbital decay2 km/month
Statistics as of 9 March 2011
(unless noted otherwise)
References:[1][3][4][5][6]
Configuration
The components of the ISS in an exploded diagram, with modules on-orbit highlighted in orange, and those still awaiting launch in blue or pink
Station elements as of July 2021
(exploded view)

TheInternational Space Station(ISS) is aspace station,a very largesatellitethat people can live in for several months at a time. It was put together inLow Earth orbitup until 2011, but other bits have been added since then. The last part, a Bigelowmodulewas added in 2016. The station is a joint project among several areas of the world: theUnited States,Russia,Europe,Japan,andCanada.Other nations such asBrazil,Italy,andChinaalso work with the ISS through cooperation with other countries.

Building the ISS began in 1998, when Russian and American space modules were joined together.

Origin[change|change source]

In the early 1980s,NASAplanned Space Station Freedom as acounterpartto the SovietSalyutandMirspace stations. It never left the drawing board and, with the end of theSoviet Unionand theCold War,it was cancelled. The end of theSpace Raceprompted the U.S. administration officials to start negotiations with international partners Europe, Russia, Japan and Canada in the early 1990s in order to build a truly international space station. This project was first announced in 1993 and was called Space Station Alpha.[7]It was planned to combine the proposed space stations of all participating space agencies: NASA's Space Station Freedom, Russia'sMir-2(the successor to the Mir Space Station, the core of which is now Zvezda) and ESA'sColumbusthat was planned to be a stand-alone spacelab.

Manufacturing[change|change source]

The ISS components was manufactured in various factories all over the world, and were all shipped into theSpace Station Processing FacilityatKennedy Space Centerfor last stages of manufacturing, machine assembly and launch processing. The components are made fromstainless steel,titanium,aluminumandcopper.

Assembly[change|change source]

The assembly of the International Space Station is a great event in spacearchitecture.[4]Russian modules launched and docked by their rockets. All other pieces were delivered by theSpace Shuttle.The Bigelow Module was delivered with aFalcon 9.As of 5 June 2011,they had added 159 components during more than 1,000 hours of EVA.[8]Many of the modules that launched on the Space Shuttle were tested on the ground at theSpace Station Processing Facilityto find and correct problems before launch.

The first section, the Zarya Functional Cargo Block, was put in orbit in November 1998 on a Russian Protonrocket.Two further pieces (theUnity Moduleand Zvezda service module) were added before the first crew, Expedition 1, was sent. Expedition 1 docked to the ISS on 1 November 2000, and consisted of U.S.astronautWilliam Shepherdand two Russian cosmonauts,Yuri GidzenkoandSergey Krikalev.Since then, it has continuously been home to astronauts and cosmonauts to the present day.

Assembly of the International Space Station
Parts Assembly flight Launch date Launch vehicle Separate Views View with station
Zarya(FGB)[9] 1A/R 1998-11-20 Proton-K
Unity(Node 1),[10]PMA-1 & PMA-2 2A 1998-12-04 Space ShuttleEndeavour(STS-88)
Zvezda(Service Module)[11] 1R 2000-07-12 Proton-K
Z1 Truss&PMA-3 3A 2000-10-11 Space ShuttleDiscovery(STS-92)
P6 Truss & Solar Arrays 4A 2000-11-30 Space ShuttleEndeavour(STS-97)
Destiny(US Laboratory)[12] 5A 2001-02-07 Space ShuttleAtlantis(STS-98)
External Stowage Platform-1 5A.1 2001-03-08 Space ShuttleDiscovery(STS-102)
Canadarm2(SSRMS) 6A 2001-04-19 Space ShuttleEndeavour(STS-100)
Quest(Joint Airlock)[13] 7A 2001-07-12 Space ShuttleAtlantis(STS-104)
Pirs(Docking Compartment & Airlock) 4R 2001-09-14 Soyuz-U
(Progress M-SO1)
S0 Truss[14] 8A 2002-04-08 Space ShuttleAtlantis(STS-110)
Mobile Base System UF2 2002-06-05 Space ShuttleEndeavour(STS-111)
S1 Truss 9A 2002-10-07 Space ShuttleAtlantis(STS-112)
P1 Truss 11A 2002-11-23 Space ShuttleEndeavour(STS-113)
ESP-2 LF1 2005-07-26 Space ShuttleDiscovery(STS-114)
P3/P4 Truss & Solar Arrays[15] 12A 2006-09-09 Space ShuttleAtlantis(STS-115)
P5 Truss[16] 12A.1 2006-12-09 Space ShuttleDiscovery(STS-116)
S3/S4 Truss & Solar Arrays 13A 2007-06-08 Space ShuttleAtlantis(STS-117)
S5 TrussandESP-3 13A.1 2007-08-08 Space ShuttleEndeavour(STS-118)
Harmony(Node 2)
Relocation ofP6 Truss 		10A 2007-10-23 Space ShuttleDiscovery(STS-120)
Columbus(European Laboratory)[17] 1E 2008-02-07 Space ShuttleAtlantis(STS-122)
Dextre(SPDM)
Japanese Logistics Module(ELM-PS) 		1J/A 2008-03-11 Space ShuttleEndeavour(STS-123)
Japanese Pressurized Module(JEM-PM)
JEM Robotic Arm(JEM-RMS)[18][19] 		1J 2008-05-31 Space ShuttleDiscovery(STS-124)
S6 Truss & Solar Arrays 15A 2009-03-15 Space ShuttleDiscovery(STS-119)
Japanese Exposed Facility(JEM-EF) 2J/A 2009-07-15 Space ShuttleEndeavour(STS-127)
Poisk(MRM-2)[20][21] 5R 2009-11-10 Soyuz-U
(Progress M-MIM2)
ExPRESS Logistics Carriers 1 & 2 ULF3 2009-11-16 Space ShuttleAtlantis(STS-129)
Cupola&
Tranquility(Node 3) 		20A 2010-02-08 Space ShuttleEndeavour(STS-130)
Rassvet(MRM-1)[22] ULF4 2010-05-14 Space ShuttleAtlantis(STS-132)
Leonardo(PMM) andEXPRESS Logistics Carrier 4 ULF5 2011-02-24 Space ShuttleDiscovery(STS-133)
Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer,OBSSandEXPRESS Logistics Carrier 3 ULF6 2011-05-16 Space ShuttleEndeavour(STS-134)
Bigelow Expandable Activity Module[23] 2016-04-08 Falcon 9

(SpaceX CRS-8)

Parts Assembly flight Launch date Launch vehicle Separate View View with station

Life in space[change|change source]

Bedtime[change|change source]

People living in the space station have to get used to all kinds of changes from life on Earth. It takes them only 90 minutes to orbit (go around) the earth, so the sun looks as if it is rising and setting 16 times a day. This can be confusing, especially when one is trying to decide when they should go to bed. The astronauts try to keep a 24-hour-schedule anyway. At bedtime, they have to sleep in sleeping bags that are stuck to the wall. They have tostrapthemselves inside so they will not float away while sleeping.[24] En:wikt:Strap

Zero gravity[change|change source]

In orbit there is noG-Force(this is calledfree fallorzero gravity). To help prepare astronauts experience zero gravity, NASA trainers put the astronauts inwater.Because water makes one float, this is a little like experiencing no gravity. However, in water they can push against the water and move around. In zero gravity, there is nothing to push against, so they just float in the air. Another way of training is going in a plane and making the plane fall to earth very quickly. This lets peopleexperiencezero gravity for a very short time. This training can make people quite sick at first. Astronauts feel as if there is no force acting on them.

In zero gravity, the astronauts do not use their legs very much, so they need to get lots of exercise to keep them from becoming too weak. Without gravity, astronauts can get big upper bodies and skinny legs. This is called chicken-leg syndrome. Astronauts must exercise hard, every day, to remain healthy.

Eating in space style is difficult. Water and otherliquidsdo notflowdown in space, so if any were spilled in the space station, it would float around everywhere. Liquids can ruin electronicequipment,so astronauts have to be very careful in space. They drink by sucking water out of a bag, or from a tube stuck to the wall. They cannot put their food onplatesbecause it would just float right off, so they put it in pouches and eat from the pouches. The food they eat is usually dried, because any crumbs can ruin the equipment.
Sometimes freshfruitsandvegetablesare sent up to the astronauts, but it is very expensive and hard to send it, so they have to bring plenty of food with them.[24]

Bathroom[change|change source]

In space, thebathroomshould probably be called therestroominstead, because one really can not takebathsthere. Instead, astronauts usesquirt gunsto take a shower. One person squirts himself with a gun while other people stand outside with a watervacuumto get rid of all the water that floats out of the shower. This is quite hard, so astronauts usually just take a "sponge bath" with a wetcloth.
Toiletscan be another problem. Toilets are supposed to usegravityto work. When one flushes a toilet, gravity makes the water go down. Since the astronauts on the ISS do not feel any gravity, the toilet must be attached to theastronautsand gently suck away all theirwaste.[24]

References[change|change source]

  1. ↑1.01.1Garcia, Mark (9 May 2018)."About the Space Station: Facts and Figures".NASA.Retrieved21 June2018.
  2. ↑"Space to Ground: Friending the ISS: 06/03/2016".YouTube.com.NASA. 3 June 2016.
  3. ↑3.03.13.23.33.43.53.63.73.8Peat, Chris (28 September 2018)."ISS – Orbit".Heavens-Above.Retrieved28 September2018.
  4. ↑4.04.1NASA (18 February 2010)."On-Orbit Elements"(PDF).NASA. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 29 October 2009.Retrieved19 June2010.
  5. ↑"STS-132 Press Kit".NASA. 7 May 2010. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 25 December 2018.Retrieved19 June2010.
  6. ↑"STS-133 FD 04 Execute Package".NASA. 27 February 2011. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 25 December 2018.Retrieved27 February2011.
  7. ↑GAO (June 1994)."Space Station: Impact of the Expanded Russian Role on Funding and Research"(PDF).GAO.Retrieved3 November2006.
  8. ↑"The ISS to Date".NASA. 9 March 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 11 June 2015.Retrieved21 March2011.
  9. ↑Wade, Mark (15 July 2008)."ISS Zarya".Encyclopaedia Astronautica. Archived fromthe originalon 27 February 2009.Retrieved11 March2009.
  10. ↑"Unity Connecting Module: Cornerstone for a Home in Orbit"(PDF).NASA. January 1999.Archived(PDF)from the original on 17 March 2009.Retrieved11 March2009.
  11. ↑"Zvezda Service Module".NASA. 11 March 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 23 March 2009.Retrieved11 March2009.
  12. ↑"US Destiny Laboratory".NASA. 26 March 2007.Archivedfrom the original on 9 July 2007.Retrieved26 June2007.
  13. ↑"Space Station Extravehicular Activity".NASA.4 April 2004.Archivedfrom the original on 3 April 2009.Retrieved11 March2009.
  14. ↑"Space Station Assembly: Integrated Truss Structure".NASA.Archivedfrom the original on 7 December 2007.Retrieved2 December2007.
  15. ↑"P3 and P4 to expand station capabilities, providing a third and fourth solar array"(PDF).Boeing. July 2006.Retrieved2 December2007.
  16. ↑"STS-118 MISSION OVERVIEW: BUILD THE STATION…BUILD THE FUTURE"(PDF).NASA PAO. July 2007.Archived(PDF)from the original on 1 December 2007.Retrieved2 December2007.
  17. ↑"Columbus laboratory".ESA. 10 January 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 30 March 2009.Retrieved6 March2009.
  18. ↑"About Kibo".JAXA. 25 September 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 10 March 2009.Retrieved6 March2009.
  19. ↑"Kibo Japanese Experiment Module".NASA. 23 November 2007.Archivedfrom the original on 23 October 2008.Retrieved22 November2008.
  20. ↑Zak, Anatoly."Docking Compartment-1 and 2".RussianSpaceWeb.com.Archivedfrom the original on 10 February 2009.Retrieved26 March2009.
  21. ↑Bergin, Chris (9 November 2009)."Russian module launches via Soyuz for Thursday ISS docking".NASASpaceflight.com.Archivedfrom the original on 13 November 2009.Retrieved10 November2009.
  22. ↑"NASA Extends Contract With Russia's Federal Space Agency"(Press release). NASA. 9 April 2007.Archivedfrom the original on 23 June 2007.Retrieved15 June2007.
  23. ↑"NASA to Test Bigelow Expandable Module on Space Station".NASA. 16 January 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 20 January 2013.Retrieved16 January2013.
  24. ↑24.024.124.2"Living and Working on the International Space Station"(PDF).CSA. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 19 April 2009.Retrieved28 October2009.

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