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International Space Station

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

The International Space Station as seen from the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft during a flyaround maneuver in November 2021.

International Space Station

The International Space Station (ISS) is a giant science lab that flies around Earth. It is like a big house in space where people live and work. The ISS is home to astronauts from many countries who do important experiments and learn about living far from Earth.

The ISS orbits Earth about 400 kilometers up. It moves very fast—about 28,000 kilometers per hour! Because it is so high, it can be seen from the ground as a bright moving dot in the night sky. The ISS completes a full orbit around Earth every 90 minutes, which means astronauts see 16 sunrises and sunsets each day!

The ISS is a project where many countries work together. Five big space agencies helped build it: NASA from the United States, Roscosmos from Russia, ESA from Europe, JAXA from Japan, and CSA from Canada. Since November 2000, people have lived on the ISS nonstop, making it the longest continuous human presence in space.

Astronauts do many fun and important things on the ISS. They grow plants to learn about farming in space, study stars and planets, and learn how the human body changes when living without gravity. The ISS helps scientists prepare for future trips to places like the Moon and Mars. It even has a big window called the Cupola, where astronauts can look out and enjoy amazing views of Earth and space.

Life on the ISS is busy but also comfortable. The station has rooms for sleeping, bathrooms, a kitchen, and even a small gym. Astronauts exercise every day to stay strong because there is no gravity to help them. They also have time to call their families and enjoy hobbies. Meals are specially packed to stay fresh and taste good in space, and fresh fruits and vegetables sometimes arrive on supply missions.

The ISS will continue to be used for many more years. It was built to last 15 years but has been working for over 25 years! Countries plan to keep it running until at least 2030. The ISS shows how working together can help us learn amazing things about space and our planet.

Images

Astronaut Dan Burbank captured Comet Lovejoy glowing near Earth's horizon from the International Space Station in 2011.
An artist's illustration of an American Apollo spacecraft docking with a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975.
Astronaut Michael Foale checks scientific equipment inside the International Space Station, showing how research is done in space.
Astronauts view of the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle Endeavour docked together in orbit, with Earth in the background.
A group of tiny satellites called CubeSats being deployed from the International Space Station to conduct experiments in space, with Earth visible in the background.
Astronauts Jessica Watkins and Bob Hines study plant growth in space using special soilless methods that could help grow food for future space missions and improve farming on Earth.
Scientists compare how flames behave on Earth versus in space, showing how gravity affects fire.
Astronauts from Expedition 17 pose inside the Jules Verne spacecraft with a historic Jules Verne manuscript.
The International Space Station (ISS) is a remarkable scientific laboratory that orbits Earth, where astronauts from many countries conduct research and experiments.
Inside a special building, a part of the International Space Station called Node 2 is being moved into place for future space missions.
Astronauts view of the International Space Station floating in the darkness of space from inside the Space Shuttle Atlantis.
The International Space Station floating in space after separating from the Space Shuttle Atlantis in 2010.
Animation showing how the International Space Station was built over time by astronauts and engineers.

Related articles

NASA
United States
Roscosmos
Russia
ESA
Europe

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on International Space Station, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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