Since its beginning in 1998, The International Space Station (ISS) continues to generate numerous benefits that improve individual lives on Earth, inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers, foster international collaboration, and enable future exploration deeper into the solar system.
The ISS is the largest modular space station in low Earth orbit. The project involves five space agencies: the United States’ NASA, Russia’s Roscosmos, Japan’s JAXA, Europe’s ESA, and Canada’s CSA.
The ownership and use of the space station is established by intergovernmental treaties and agreements.
The International Space Station serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory in which scientific research is conducted in astrobiology, astronomy, meteorology, physics, and other fields.
The ISS is suited for testing the spacecraft systems and equipment required for possible future long-duration missions to the moon and Mars.
Additionally, researchers from around the world use the International Space Station to address complex human health problems on Earth, studying disease formation, testing drugs and diagnostic tools, and examining the inner workings of the human body.
With the Commercial Crew program, the space station has enabled the development of private space vehicles such as the SpaceX Crew Dragon.
Analysts generally agree that the $100 billion and more that NASA and its international partners have paid for the International Space Station has been well worth the investment.
However, time is running out for the space station. The station’s hardware is ageing, so in 2031 it will be de-orbited, brought back through Earth’s atmosphere and crashed into the ocean.
A floating science laboratory dubbed “Starlab” is poised to replace the International Space Station (ISS). The continuously crewed lab will be staffed with Nasa and European Space Agency (ESA) astronauts who will perform experiments in microgravity which could help eradicate diseases, manage natural disasters, boost food production and pave the way for further human exploration of the Solar System.
Crew quarters are being designed by the hotel brand Hilton.
Want to learn more? Tonex offers more than 50 courses in its Tonex Space Academy where participants can learn about space engineering, space operations and space cybersecurity.
Popular courses include:
CubeSat Systems Engineering Workshop
Fundamentals of Deep Space Engineering
Space Systems Engineering Course
Certified Space Security Specialist Professional
Secure Space Software Development Training
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