The International Space Station (ISS) is a unique scientific platform where astronauts conduct experiments across multiple disciplines of research, including Earth and space science, biology, human physiology, physical sciences and technology DOWN TO EARTH demonstrations that could not be done anywhere else in the world. In 2020, the ISS Bringing scientific results CELEBRATING 20 YEARS celebrates 20 years of continuous human presence aboard the orbiting laboratory. back to Earth is an important role for the ISS. THE From December 1998 to OF HUMAN PRESENCE ON THE ISS GRAVITY March 2019 78,514 kg of were ISS International Partners: NASA, ROSCOSMOS, CSA, ESA, and JAXA LABORATORY research resources JOURNALS brought to the station, and The ISS is the only CONFERENCE PAPERS 23,559 kg were returned A GLOBAL ACHIEVEMENT RESEARCH & EDUCATION RESEARCH place we can conduct to Earth. EDUCATION NON-TECHNICAL long-duration research 240 individuals from 19 countries have visited the International on how living in 7% microgravity affects 100k Space Station. the human body. An international crew of six live and work aboard the ISS. 19% 74% 1000s of researchers on the ground from more Between December 1998 and March 2019, over 75k 4,200 investigators Where have ISS results than 100 countries and counting have conducted been published? representing more than 100 countries and counting carried out almost 3,000 experiments in microgravity. (data through March 2019) almost 3,000 completed and ongoing investigations. 50k The space station is a major feat WHY CONDUCT SCIENCE IN SPACE? 25k of engineering that has pushed The space station offers a great the boundaries of human innovation and problem solving. vantage point from which we can 0 study the Earth, allows scientists to STATION STATS expose materials to the harsh JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS BY DISCIPLINE environment of space and lets us Power Generation: 4 pairs of solar arrays test technologies that could help provide 75 to 90 kilowatts of power take us farther into deep space, including to the Moon and Mars. Solar Array Length: 240 feet, Biology about the same as an Airbus A380 and Human Physical EARTH TO ISS... Science Biotechnology Research WHAT CAN MICROGRAVITY REVEAL? The ISS is approximately Pressurized Module Length: 167 feet Microgravity turns everything we 260 miles above the 32% 24% 17% Mass: 925,335 pounds know upside down. surface of the Earth, just Fluids behave differently. a bit farther than the The space station is 357 feet wide, one yard shy of the length of distance between an American football field including the end zones. Fires burn in new ways. New insights into systems Washington, D.C. Up to eight spacecraft can connect to the space station at any time. are revealed, creating and New York City. Earth and Technology Educational new understandings. Space Development Activities It can take as few Science and and Demonstration Outreach as 6 hours for a <5% spacecraft to 14% 10% EFFECTS ON THE HUMAN BODY arrive to the To mitigate the loss of muscle and station from Earth. SPACEWALKS bone mass in microgravity, astronauts exercise at least 2 hours A WINDOW Astronauts have conducted more than 227 spacewalks 173 per day and follow a careful diet. TO THE (and counting!) since 1998, of which 173 were in U.S. spacesuits and 54 were in Russian spacesuits. 54 We continue to study changes in EARTH vision, cognition, fine motor skills and other physiological IN ORBIT NUMBERS OF INVESTIGATIONS & INVESTIGATORS systems to develop ways to keep astronauts safe in space The ISS travels at a DID YOU KNOW? 1000 INVOLVED PER EXPEDITION and help people back on Earth. speed of 5 miles per From the ISS, 800 astronauts take second or 17,500 mph. Number of investigators superseded number millions of of investigations around expedition 18 BENEFITTING EARTH & EXPLORATION In 24 hours, the space photos of the The Water Recovery 600 Research on the station, Earth below. station makes 16 orbits System recycles 93% of from growing plants in of Earth, traveling space to understanding space station waste water, 400 90% through 16 sunrises and reducing the dependence FUN FACT how cement behaves The station’s sunsets. on water delivered by a Christina Koch and in microgravity, has orbital path cargo spacecraft. Jessica Meir conducted 200 benefits for our future takes it over the first all-woman exploration of deep space as well as 90% of the spacewalk in 0 October 2019. benefits back on our Earth’s 1 3 7 11 15 19/20 27/28 35/36 43/44 55/56 population home planet. .