International Space Station

International Space Station

Government

Height 72.80 Metres

Width 108.50 Metres

Mass 419.70 Tonnes

Volume 931.00 m3

Orbit Low Earth Orbit

Founded 1998-11-20

Mission Description

The International Space Station (ISS) is a space station, or a habitable artificial satellite, in low Earth orbit. Its first component was launched into orbit in 1998, with the first long-term residents arriving in November 2000. It has been inhabited continuously since that date. The last pressurised module was fitted in 2011, and an experimental inflatable space habitat was added in 2016. The station is expected to operate until 2030. Development and assembly of the station continues, with several new elements scheduled for launch in 2019. The ISS is the largest human-made body in low Earth orbit and can often be seen with the naked eye from Earth. The ISS consists of pressurised habitation modules, structural trusses, solar arrays, radiators, docking ports, experiment bays and robotic arms. ISS components have been launched by Russian Proton and Soyuz rockets, and American Space Shuttles.

Crew

Sunita Williams

Commander

Nationality American

Date Of Birth 1965-09-19

Status Active

Type Government


Aleksandr Gorbunov

Flight Engineer

Nationality Russian

Date Of Birth 1990-05-24

Status Active

Type Government


Aleksey Ovchinin

Flight Engineer

Nationality Russian

Date Of Birth 1971-09-28

Status Active

Type Government


Barry E. Wilmore

Flight Engineer

Nationality American

Date Of Birth 1962-12-29

Status Active

Type Government


Donald Pettit

Flight Engineer

Nationality American

Date Of Birth 1955-04-20

Status Active

Type Government


Ivan Vagner

Flight Engineer

Nationality Russian

Date Of Birth 1985-07-10

Status Active

Type Government


Nick Hague

Flight Engineer

Nationality American

Date Of Birth 1975-09-24

Status Active

Type Government


Docked Vehicles

Crew Dragon Freedom

SpaceX


Docking

Docking Location Harmony forward

Human Rated Yes


Soyuz MS-26

Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS)


Docking

Docking Location Rassvet nadir

Human Rated Yes


Progress-MS 28

Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS)


Docking

Docking Location Zvezda aft

Human Rated No


Cygnus CRS NG-21 (S.S. Francis R. “Dick” Scobee)

Northrop Grumman Space Systems


Docking

Docking Location Unity nadir

Human Rated No


Progress-MS 27

Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS)


Docking

Docking Location Poisk zenith

Human Rated No


See More News