What is the International Space Station and what is its purpose?

The International Space Station is a large spacecraft in orbit around the Earth. It serves as a home where crews of astronauts and cosmonauts live. The space station is also a unique scientific laboratory. Several nations worked together to build and operate the space station.

What are they doing on the International Space Station?

The station serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory, conducting scientific research in astrobiology, astronomy, meteorology, physics and other fields.

What is the size of the International Space Station?

357 feet
The International Space Station measures 357 feet end-to-end. That's almost the length of a football field including the end zones (360 feet).

What is the International Space Agency?

An international partnership of space agencies supplies and operates the elements of the ISS. The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada. The ISS has been the most politically complex space exploration program ever undertaken.

What happens if you get sick in the room?

Space motion sickness occurs during the first 48 hours, causing loss of appetite, dizziness and vomiting. Over time, astronauts who spend six months on the station can experience weakening and loss of bone and atrophy of muscle.

What kind of space station is the International Space Station?

"ISS" redirects here. For other uses, see ISS (disambiguation). The International Space Station (ISS) is a modular space station (habitable artificial satellite) in low Earth orbit.

How is the International Space Station a scientific laboratory?

(grades K-4) series. The International Space Station is a large spacecraft. It orbits the Earth. It is a home where astronauts live. The space station is also a scientific laboratory. Many countries worked together to build it. They also work together to use it. The space station is made of many pieces. The pieces were put together in space by astronauts.

Is the International Space Station in Low Earth Orbit?

The International Space Station (ISS) is a habitable artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. It is the latest and largest in the line of previous space stations such as Skylab and Mir.

How long will the International Space Station be operational?

As of December 2018, the station is expected to operate until 2030. Development and assembly of the station continues, with several major new Russian elements scheduled for launch starting in 2020. The ISS is the largest man-made object in low Earth orbit and can often be seen with the naked eye from Earth.