You are not logged in
International
The International Space Station was designed as a modular network of habitable and working environments, permanently orbiting Earth. It is primarily a science lab and potential stepping-stone for lunar and interplanetary exploration.
It was scheduled to follow on from the Space Shuttle program and, for the first time, employed international cooperation in its construction and maintenance. Space agencies including NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), RKA (Russian Federal Space Agency), JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), CSA (Canadian Space Agency) and ESA (European Space Agency) all contributed to the program.
Zarya was the first node of the Space Station launched into Earth orbit in 1998. A few weeks later the second node, Unity, was delivered by Space Shuttle Endeavour. In 2000, Russia provided the Zvezda crew living quarters, including the sleeping cabin, exercise equipment, toilet, wash basin and kitchen table. The first crew arrived soon after.
International crews deliver cargo and supplies to maintain and operate the space station. They will continue adding components over 11 future missions to complete the program in 2010.
Life aboard
Astronauts visiting the ISS have to exercise for two hours a day to counter the exhausting effect of zero gravity on their bodies.
ESAs major contribution is the Columbus Laboratory. It is the newest addition to the ISS and allows a whole host of scientific experiments including the use and testing of equipment developed for long term space exploration, the affects of micro gravity on astronauts, materials sciences and fluid physics. External apparatus on Columbus allows a variety of exobiology experiments and an in-depth study of the Sun.
It was scheduled to follow on from the Space Shuttle program and, for the first time, employed international cooperation in its construction and maintenance. Space agencies including NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), RKA (Russian Federal Space Agency), JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), CSA (Canadian Space Agency) and ESA (European Space Agency) all contributed to the program.
Zarya was the first node of the Space Station launched into Earth orbit in 1998. A few weeks later the second node, Unity, was delivered by Space Shuttle Endeavour. In 2000, Russia provided the Zvezda crew living quarters, including the sleeping cabin, exercise equipment, toilet, wash basin and kitchen table. The first crew arrived soon after.
International crews deliver cargo and supplies to maintain and operate the space station. They will continue adding components over 11 future missions to complete the program in 2010.
Life aboard
Astronauts visiting the ISS have to exercise for two hours a day to counter the exhausting effect of zero gravity on their bodies.
ESAs major contribution is the Columbus Laboratory. It is the newest addition to the ISS and allows a whole host of scientific experiments including the use and testing of equipment developed for long term space exploration, the affects of micro gravity on astronauts, materials sciences and fluid physics. External apparatus on Columbus allows a variety of exobiology experiments and an in-depth study of the Sun.
