Vision
A human outpost in space bringing nations together for the benefit of life on Earth… and beyond.
We will make revolutionary discoveries and establish a permanent international presence of humans in space, to advance the exploration of the solar system and enable commerce in space. U.S. Core complete Mission
Safely build, operate, and utilize a continuously inhabited orbital research facility through a partnership of governments, industries, and academia.
International partner complete dimensions: 171 ft. long, 240 ft. wide, 90 ft. high, 15,000 cubic feet of living space. weight: 197 tons (404,000 lbs.) ISS today science capabilities: laboratories from four space agencies planned, U.S. Lab “Destiny” operating since Feb. 2001. orbital inclination/path: 51.6 degrees, covering 90% of the world’s population. altitude: approximately 240 miles above the Earth. speed: 17,500 miles per hour, orbiting the Earth 16 times a day. The International Space Station is more powerful, and 4 times larger, than any human space craft ever built. Over 100 people have visited the ISS so far, 17% for the second time. United States 16 International Participants
Canada
Russia
Europe
5 International Partners Japan ISS Technical Configuration
Elements Currently on Orbit Elements Pending US Shuttle Launch Science Power Module (SPM) Elements Pending Russian Launch Docking Compartment (DC) 1
Zarya Control Module Zvezda Service Module PMA 1 S1 Truss SO Truss Port SM MMOD Shields Segment Segment Photovoltaic AMS ULC1 P1 Truss Arrays ULC2 Port MT/ CETA Research Module (RM) Mobile Segment Rails S3/4 Truss Servicing Segment System P6 Truss Multipurpose Laboratory Segment Module (MLM)
Express Pallets Starboard MT/ CETA Rails
P5 Truss S6 Truss Segment Segment ESP-3
P3/4 Truss S5 Truss Segment Segment ESP-4 Canadarm2 Starboard Photovoltaic Arrays Dextre (SPDM)
Mobile Remote Servicer Base System (MBS), JEM ELM-PS Mobile Transporter (MT) ESP-2 Z1 Truss Segment JEM RMS & Exposed Facility Airlock PMA 3 Node 1 Cupola U.S. Lab ESP-1 JEM PM Node 3 Columbus Node 2 PMA 2 CAM
Approved by ISS Multilateral Control Board 1/24/05 ISS Assembly History
2A 3A 4A Zarya/FGB Zvezda Service Module P6 Truss w/ Solar Array Unity Node 1 Z-1 Truss w/ Early Comm
11A 9A 7A P-1 truss Pirs Airlock Destiny Lab Current Configuration S-0 Truss CanadArm2 S-1 Truss Quest Airlock ISS Launch Vehicles now
Shuttle Proton Soyuz Ariane & HIIA & HTV ATV In 2001 and 2002, 160,000 lbs of hardware was lifted to the International Space Station, building mainly the backbone Truss structure. NASA and International Partner Control Centers – Present and Future Science Onboard the ISS Science Onboard the ISS
As of May 2005, 38 scientific investigations have been completed onboard using seven U.S. research facilities - 44 are ongoing long term.
• Biomedical research studying the effects of microgravity on human physiology. Don Petitt is experimenting with Pulmonary function in Flight.
• Microgravity science in materials using the new Microgravity Glove Box facility shown here with Ken Bowersox
• Earth observations by Carl Walz for environmental science.
• Astroculture research on plant growth in space shown here with first ISS science officer, Peggy Whitson. Science Onboard the ISS
Calcium oxalate stone Sub-Regional Assessment of Bone Loss in the Axial Skeleton in Long-Term Space flight.
Renal Stone Risk During Space flight: Assessment and Calcium oxalate crystals Countermeasure Validation. in the urine
Physical Science experiments obtain bio-molecular crystals in low gravity environment.
Physics of Colloids in Space 3 hrs, 50 min. seeks answers to fundamental Before mixing after mixing questions - on nucleation, growth and morphology, etc.
Biotechnology research and three-dimensional tissue culturing.
13 hrs, 24 min. 35 days, 2 hrs, 54 min. Science Onboard the ISS
Protein Crystal growth such as these The Earth is space-grown crystals are more bombarded perfectly ordered and sometimes with cosmic larger, allowing higher resolution materials x-ray analysis.
In Space Science studies aimed at discovering the sources of interplanetary cosmic-dust particles and what is heir linkage to the evolution of the solar system.
“Almost every chapter in the combustion textbooks will be 0.50 mm 0.50 mm rewritten as a result of microgravity work.” Grown on Earth Grown in Space -Professor Emeritus Howard Palmer, Penn State University 1g µg µg -extinction ISS Resupply & Logistics Supplying the Station
Progress approaching station Progress
MPLM
Supplies and fuel are brought to the Station by the Russian Progress vehicle. Supplies are also brought up via the payload bay of the Shuttle in one of three Italian built Multipurpose Logistics Modules – Leonardo, Rafaello, and Donatello. Logistics and Re-supply Today
Two Multi-Purpose Logistics Modules (MPLMs), built by ASI for NASA, bring tons of equipment and supplies to the station. Logistics and Re-supply in the Future
Japan is building the HII Launcher Transfer Vehicle, (HTV) that can perform additional logistics and re-supply functions in the future. Logistics and Re-supply in the Future
Europe is also building an Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV). IN SUMMARY: The International Space Station is critical to the continuation of space exploration. It is the only platform for learning how to live and work during longer missions in space. It's where we're learning how to combat the physiological effects of being in space for long periods of time and serves as a unique test bed for innovative technologies.
Our partnership with 15 other nations will aid international cooperation in the Vision for Space Exploration. As outlined, NASA intends to continue using the Space Shuttle with the goal of completing assembly of the Station by the end of the decade. We will continue conducting research on the Station to support space exploration goals, and to fulfill our commitments to our International Partners.