Space StationSpace Station

Will it be accessible for Will it be accessible for You and Me?You and Me?

About the Space StationAbout the Space Station

The completed International Space Station will have a mass of The completed International Space Station will have a mass of about 1,040,000 pounds. It will measure 356 feet across and about 1,040,000 pounds. It will measure 356 feet across and 290 feet long, with almost an acre of solar panels to provide 290 feet long, with almost an acre of solar panels to provide electrical power to six state-of-the-art laboratories.electrical power to six state-of-the-art laboratories.

The station will be in an orbit with an altitude of 250 statute The station will be in an orbit with an altitude of 250 statute miles with an inclination of 51.6 degrees. This orbit allows the miles with an inclination of 51.6 degrees. This orbit allows the station to be reached by the launch vehicles of all the station to be reached by the launch vehicles of all the international partners to provide capability for the delivery of international partners to provide capability for the delivery of crews and supplies. The orbit also provides excellent Earth crews and supplies. The orbit also provides excellent Earth observations with coverage of 85 percent of the globe and over observations with coverage of 85 percent of the globe and over flight of 95 percent of the population. By its completion, about flight of 95 percent of the population. By its completion, about 500,000 pounds of station components will be have been built at 500,000 pounds of station components will be have been built at factories around the world.factories around the world.

The U.S. involvement in the The U.S. involvement in the international space stationinternational space station

The United States has The United States has the responsibility for the responsibility for developing and developing and ultimately operating ultimately operating major elements and major elements and systems aboard the systems aboard the station.station.

The U.S. elements The U.S. elements include three connecting include three connecting modules, or nodes; a modules, or nodes; a laboratory module; truss laboratory module; truss segments; four solar segments; four solar arrays; a habitation arrays; a habitation module; three mating module; three mating adapters; a cupola; an adapters; a cupola; an unpressurized logistics unpressurized logistics carrier and a centrifuge carrier and a centrifuge module.module.

The various systems The various systems being developed by the being developed by the U.S. include thermal U.S. include thermal control; life support; control; life support; guidance, navigation guidance, navigation and control; data and control; data handling; power handling; power systems; systems; communications and communications and tracking; ground tracking; ground operations facilities and operations facilities and launch-site processing launch-site processing facilities.facilities.

Worldwide Involvement in the Worldwide Involvement in the International International Space StationSpace Station

The following will contribute key elements to the International Space Station:The following will contribute key elements to the International Space Station:

CanadaCanada

Canada is providing a Canada is providing a 55-foot-long robotic 55-foot-long robotic arm to be used for arm to be used for assembly and assembly and maintenance tasks maintenance tasks on the Space Station.on the Space Station.

the European the European Space AgencySpace Agency

The European Space The European Space Agency is building a Agency is building a pressurized pressurized laboratory to be laboratory to be launched on the launched on the Space Shuttle and Space Shuttle and logistics transport logistics transport vehicles to be vehicles to be launched on the launched on the Ariane 5 launch Ariane 5 launch vehicle.vehicle.

JapanJapan

Japan is building a Japan is building a laboratory with an laboratory with an attached exposed attached exposed exterior platform for exterior platform for experiments as well experiments as well as logistics transport as logistics transport vehicles.vehicles.

RussiaRussia

Russia is providing two Russia is providing two research modules; an research modules; an early living quarters early living quarters called the Service called the Service Module with its own life Module with its own life support and habitation support and habitation systems; a science systems; a science power platform of solar power platform of solar arrays that can supply arrays that can supply about 20 kilowatts of about 20 kilowatts of electrical power; electrical power; logistics transport logistics transport vehicles; and Soyuz vehicles; and Soyuz spacecraft for crew spacecraft for crew return and transfer.return and transfer.

First PhaseFirst Phase

The first phase of the The first phase of the International Space Station, the International Space Station, the Shuttle-Mir Program, began in Shuttle-Mir Program, began in 1995 and involved more than 1995 and involved more than two years of continuous stays two years of continuous stays by astronauts aboard the by astronauts aboard the Russian Mir Space Station and Russian Mir Space Station and nine Shuttle-Mir docking nine Shuttle-Mir docking missions. Knowledge was missions. Knowledge was gained in technology, gained in technology, international space operations international space operations and scientific research.and scientific research.

Next phaseNext phase

Seven U.S. astronauts spent a Seven U.S. astronauts spent a cumulative total of 32 months cumulative total of 32 months aboard Mir with 28 months of aboard Mir with 28 months of continuous occupancy since March continuous occupancy since March 1996. By contrast, it took the U.S. 1996. By contrast, it took the U.S. Space Shuttle fleet more than a Space Shuttle fleet more than a dozen years and 60 flights to dozen years and 60 flights to achieve an accumulated one year in achieve an accumulated one year in orbit. Many of the research orbit. Many of the research programs planned for the programs planned for the International Space Station benefit International Space Station benefit from longer stay times in space. The from longer stay times in space. The U.S. science program aboard the U.S. science program aboard the Mir was a pathfinder for more Mir was a pathfinder for more ambitious experiments planned for ambitious experiments planned for

the new station.the new station.