The International Space Station in orbit above Earth. An astronaut on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis took this image on October 16, 2002. Click on image for full size (49K JPEG) Image courtesy NASA.

The International Space Station (ISS) is a very large space station in orbit around Earth. The ISS is currently inhabited and in use, but it is also under construction; new modules are gradually being added to the station. The ISS is a collaborative project involving 16 nations, including the United States.

The first section of the ISS, called Zarya, was launched in November 1998 on a Russian Proton rocket. Numerous other segments have been added since, lofted into orbit aboard U.S. Space Shuttles and Russian Proton boosters. Currently the ISS has an interior volume comparable to that of a commercial jet airliner. The ISS orbits Earth at an average altitude of 354 kilometers (220 miles).

The space station is used to conduct microgravity research, to study the long-term effects of spaceflight on humans and other living creatures, to test equipment and procedures for long duration stays in space, and to observe Earth. The first crew took up residence in October 2000, and the ISS has been continuously inhabited since. Crews spend about six months on board the station, and are replaced by other cosmonauts and astronauts launched on the Space Shuttle or Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

Sixteen nations are partners in the ISS project: the United States, Russia, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Two space tourists have visited the ISS.

This picture shows the International Space Station. An astronaut on the Space Shuttle took this picture in 2002. Click on image for full size (49K JPEG) Image courtesy NASA.

The International Space Station (ISS) is a large space station that orbits Earth. There are astronauts and cosmonauts living onboard the ISS right now. The ISS isn't completely finished, though. New sections will be added to the ISS in the next few years. Sixteen countries, including the United States, are working together on the ISS.

The first piece of the ISS was launched in November 1998. Several more pieces have been added since then. There is about as much room inside the ISS as there is inside a couple of school busses. The ISS orbits 354 kilometers (220 miles) above Earth.

The first crew of astronauts and cosmonauts started living on the ISS in October 2000. The crews do experiments to learn how people and other creatures are affected by living in space. They also learn how to make things in space, like larger crystals or rounder ball bearings. The crews also spend time studying Earth and figuring out what equipment is best to use for long trips in space. Each crew spends about six months on the ISS before returning to Earth.

This picture shows the International Space Station. An astronaut on the Space Shuttle took this picture. Click on image for full size (49K JPEG) Image courtesy NASA.

There is a large space station circling Earth right now. It is called the International Space Station (ISS for short). Astronauts live and work in the ISS. Sixteen countries, including the United States, are making and using the ISS.

The first part of the ISS was launched in 1998. A bunch more parts have been added since then. The ISS isn't quite finished yet. More parts will be added in the next few years.

The ISS is pretty big. Imagine how much space there is inside of two school busses. That's about how much room there is in the ISS.

Astronauts started living and working in the ISS in 2000. The astronauts do experiments that help us learn how to live in space. They also grow plants and large crystals. The astronauts also study Earth by looking down at it from orbit. Each crew of astronauts stays on the ISS for about six months. After six months, the crew comes back to Earth and another crew takes over.