Leicester University Physics Department

The International Space Station (ISS)

International Space Station

The International Space Station courtesy of Boeing picture gallery

Spacecraft Index

Satellites

Space Stations

International Space Station

Shuttles

Interplanetary Probes

Sounding Rockets

"The International Space Station is an unprecedented undertaking in scientific, technological, and international experimentation. Whether the research improves our industrial processes, increases fundamental knowledge, helps us to look after our health, or enables us to take the next steps in the exploration and development of space, research on board the ISS should bring enduring benefits for life on Earth and in space. Collaboration among our international, industrial, and academic partners will ensure that the benefits from ISS work are felt across the global spectrum of public and private interests."

Daniel S. Goldin, NASA Administrator The International Space Station NASA Research Plan, An Overview

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Introduction

Zarya control module The idea of an international space station was first conceived in 1993, when the Russian Space Agency and NASA agreed to combine their respective MIR-2 and Freedom projects. Despite various delays and technical problems, the first module, Zarya, was successfully launched in November 1998, and in December the second, Unity, was attached. The Zvezda service module and Destiny lab followed in the next two years. For full details of the structure, see the link to the NASA's ISS page (Links page).

Crews and Craft

The first resident crew boarded in November 2000, led by astronaut William Shepherd. (For further information on the crew see Astronauts and Cosmonauts). There have been ten separate resident crews on board the ISS so far, with the eleventh due to take off on July 13 th 2005. Crews spend on average four months onboard the station, and during the changeover periods communicate any problems and other useful information to mission control on Earth, to help the new crew quickly adjust to their situation. Manned missions and crew changes have made use of the Russian Soyuz vehicles and NASA's Shuttles, whilst unmanned Progress cargo ships make deliveries of food, fuel and water to the station, and the old cargo ships are loaded with refuse and burn up in the Earth's atmosphere shortly after undocking. Progress is an automated version of the manned Soyuz craft.

Objectives

To create a venue for world class, space-based scientific experimentation and research.
To create an infrastructure for the development of space-based commerce and enterprise.
To create senses of wonder, excitement, and exploration among the people of the Earth leading to demand for space-related education at all levels, in all countries.
To create a forum for international cooperation, thereby fostering world peace.

Main research areas

Microgravity science
Life science
Product development
Space science
Engineering research and technology

Member nations

Sixteen countries-including 11 members of the European Space Agency-today are members of the International Space Station Team:

Belgium	Brazil	Canada	Denmark	France	Germany	Italy	Japan
The Netherlands	Norway	Russia	Spain	Sweden	Switzerland	UK	USA

More than 900 researchers from these and other countries are developing experiments that will be carried out on the ISS.

Assembly Overview

When fully assembled, the 470-ton International Space Station (ISS) will house a crew of six or seven in a space roughly equivalent to two Boeing 747 jet liners in six labs, two habitation modules and two logistics modules. It will measure 110m across and 95m long.

More than 100 ISS elements are to be eventually joined during 45 missions using the Space Shuttle and Russia's Soyuz, Zenit and Proton rockets, as well as its Soyuz and Progress spacecraft. They will be hefting nearly 500 tons of structures, equipment and supplies into orbit. More space walks will be required in five years of assembly than the combined total of spacewalks since that word entered the lexicon in the early 1960s.

Like any modern research building, the ISS has a frame, labs and living areas, water and power systems and places to park. The frame is a bridge-like linear truss. Cylinder-shaped facilities where scientists and others work and reside are attached to it, as are almost two football-fields' worth of solar arrays for power.

The crews who fly personnel, supplies, and food and water to the ISS park their space vehicles at one of several docking stations. Those who stay overnight eat better than anyone has in any prior space program. They drink water developed by Shuttle fuel cells and recycled from showers and shaves. It is purer than that of many cities.

The ISS whizzes around the planet at 17,500 mph, completing one orbit every 90 minutes. Its altitude ranges from 208 to 285 miles, about the distance from London to Newcastle.

However, the progress of the station has been delayed by problems, the most recent being a faulty oxygen generator onboard that is in need of replacement parts. Currently a Progress ship is supplying oxygen to the crew onboard. The disastrous return of the space shuttle Columbia in February 2003 halted all shuttle activity, and all subsequent manned missions used Soyuz vehicles until Discovery was launched in July 2005.

The ISS was originally scheduled for completion in 2004, after a total of 45 rocket launches. A recent estimate is 2006, and it is expected that the station will be manned until 2016.

1. Zarya: The Control Module Zarya is a 21-ton power, communication and spacecraft control element that on Nov. 20, 1998, was rocketed into history as the first International Space Station component to be sent into orbit.
2. Unity: The First Node Node 1, known as "Unity," a passageway connecting living and work areas of the International Space Station was launched into space on board the Shuttle Endeavour on December 4, 1998. The picture on the right shows Unity and Zarya.
3. Inside an MPLM The Multi-Purpose Logistics Modules were built by the Italian Space Agency. They can be berthed to the Space Station and cargo can be unloaded, then they can be used to take old equipment back to Earth on a Shuttle. There are three MPLMs, named Leonardo, Donatello and Raffaello after talented Italians in history.
4. The Destiny Laboratory Destiny contains the control facility for the Station's robotic arm, life support and electrical systems, and facilities for several scientific experiments to study life in space. It also has a window through which high quality photographs and videos can be taken.
5. The Joint Airlock The airlock provides a preparation facility for spacewalks that is compatible both with Russian and American space suits. It ensures that a minimum of air is lost whilst Station-based spacewalks are being performed.
6. Pirs Docking Compartment The docking compartment serves as a port for cargo and transport craft, and also provides an airlock for spacewalks. It can also transfer fuel from cargo ships to the service module or to Zarya, and can transfer propellant from the Station to a docked ship. (Pictures 3-6 courtesy of NASA)

Orbiter grapples Zarya.