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The ISS is currently the only space station in orbit around

the Earth. It has been built from more than 100 separate

main parts. The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration

(NASA), provided most of the station hardware and was in charge

of construction. Russia, Europe (through the European Space

Agency), Japan, and Canada have also supplied major units.

WHAT IS IT LIKE INSIDE THE ISS?

Up to six astronauts live on the ISS at one time. They have

one-person booths or sleeping stations, located around

the habitable modules. There are two space toilets but no

shower. Instead, crew members wash with special wipes

and a water jet. Four main laboratories are the places

where astronauts carry out scientific research. Work takes

up to 10 hours on weekdays. The rest of the time is spent

on meal breaks, exercise, and recreation.

In a space station, a large manned spacecraft orbiting

Earth, astronauts can live and work in space for long

periods. The. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (ISS)

is the biggest structure ever to be built in space.

WHAT ARE SPACE STATIONS USED FOR?

Space stations are used to carry out

research. Astronauts have

examined the behaviour of

materials and living things in a

microgravity (near-weightless)

environment, and how space flight

affects the human body.

HOW ARE SPACE STATIONS BUILT?

Early space stations such as Russia’s

Salyuts and the US Skylab were built on

Earth and launched into orbit as complete units.

Larger stations, such as Mir, were assembled in orbit

from modules (sections) ferried up from Earth when

ready. The ISS is also being built like this.

1 EVA ON THE ISS
Robot arms on the shuttle and the ISS connect new sections of the
station, but spacewalking astronauts are needed to complete the job.
More than 850 hours of extravehicular activity (EVA) will be required
before assembly of the station is complete. Afterwards, astronauts will
have to make regular EVAs to carry out maintenance and repairs.

1 MIR

Russia’s Mir space station is

shown docked (linked up) with

a US Space Shuttle. Launched in

1986, Mir was permanently manned

by a crew of two or three

cosmonauts, plus guests from

dozens of nations. Mir fell

back to Earth in 2001.

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

4 THE ISS

Due for completion in 2011, the

International Space Station is

the biggest, most complex space station

ever. With a length of 73 m (240 ft)

and width of 109 m (356 ft), its final

mass is over 400 tonnes (450 tons).

1 SKYLAB
Skylab was a US space station launched
in 1973. Three three-man crews worked
in Skylab for 28, 59, and 84 days. It was
allowed to fall back to Earth in 1979.

SPACE STATIONS

Space Stations

Solar panels

power ISS

Truss acts as

framework

for ISS

External equipment

platform

Thermal panels

control temperature

Re-supply

orbiter docks

with ISS

Research

laboratories

FIND OUT MORE. Astronauts 31 • Forces 164 • Space Travel 30

space

stations