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INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

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This mosaic depicts the International Space Station pictured from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour during a fly around of the orbiting lab that took place following its undocking from the Harmony module’s space-facing port on Nov. 8, 2021.

International Space Station

25

Years in Orbit

270+

Astronauts Visited

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

About the International Space Station

The station was designed between 1984 and 1993. Elements of the station were in construction throughout the US, Canada, Japan, and Europe beginning in the late 1980s.

The International Space Station Program brings together international flight crews, multiple launch vehicles, globally distributed launch and flight operations, training, engineering, and development facilities, communications networks, and the international scientific research community.Read Moreabout About the International Space Station

Backdropped by Earth’s horizon and the blackness of space, the International Space Station is featured in this image photographed by an STS-130 crew member as space shuttle Endeavour and the station approach each other during rendezvous and docking activities

Backdropped by Earth’s horizon and the blackness of space, the International Space Station is featured in this image photographed by an STS-130 crew member as space shuttle Endeavour and the station approach each other during rendezvous and docking activities. Docking occurred at 11:06 p.m. (CST) on Feb. 9, 2010, delivering the Tranquility node and its Cupola.

All Expeditions

Expedition 72

Expedition 72 began on Sept. 23, 2024 and ends in Spring 2025. The orbital residents will explore a variety of space phenomena to benefit humans on and off the Earth…Learn More

NASA Blog

Space Station Daily Blog Update

Daily updates from the orbiting laboratoryRead the Daily Blog

NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins in a spacesuit outside of the International Space Station during a spacewalk.

On Dec. 24, 2013, NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins, Expedition 38 Flight Engineer, participates in the second of two spacewalks, spread over a four-day period, which were designed to allow the crew to change out a faulty water pump on the exterior of the Earth-orbiting International Space Station.

  • Assembly Elements
  • International Cooperation
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  • Station Visitors
  • Station Record Holders
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Station Assembly Elements

Explore the International Space Station.

We are driven to explore the unknown, discover new worlds, push the boundaries of our scientific and technical limits, and then push further.Read More on Assembly Elements

The International Space Station photographed by Expedition 56 crew members from a Soyuz spacecraft after undocking.

The International Space Station photographed by Expedition 56 crew members from a Soyuz spacecraft after undocking. NASA astronauts Andrew Feustel and Ricky Arnold and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev executed a fly around of the orbiting laboratory to take pictures of the station before returning home after spending 197 days in space. The station will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the launch of the first element Zarya in November 2018.

NASA/Roscosmos

Latest News

View more NASA Space Station News

Blog

3 Min Read

Vein Scans, Muscle Study on Station Informing Ways to Keep Crews Healthy

Article

4 Min Read

Heart Health

3 Min Read

NASA’s Advancements in Space Continue Generating Products on Earth  News Release3 Min ReadKeeping Crews Healthy Farther Away from Earth Key Station Research TopicBlog2 Min ReadNASA, SpaceX Invite Media to Watch Crew-10 Launch to Space StationNews Release

Learn More and Get Involved

The International Space Station exterior for the ISS 2024 calendar.

ISS: 2025 Calendar

Explore the new International Space Station 2025 calendar and learn more about the one-of-a-kind orbiting laboratory.

NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Bob Hines work on the XROOTS space botany investigation testing soilless methods to grow plants in microgravity.

Research and Technology

Since the first crew’s arrival aboard over twenty years ago, the International Space Station has evolved into a state-of-the-art scientific lab.

Four Expedition 59 astronauts pose for a playful portrait inside the Harmony module. Clockwise from left are astronaut David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency; and NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Anne McClain and Nick Hague.

Station Expeditions

Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet.

The ISS Progress 76 resupply ship departs the International Space Station

Visiting Vehicles

ESA, JAXA, Roscosmos, Northrop Grumman, and SpaceX, each have launched their own space freighters to resupply the International Space Station. NASA, Roscosmos, SpaceX, and Boeing have also launched their own crew ships to the orbital outpost.

NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins in a spacesuit outside of the International Space Station during a spacewalk.

Station Spacewalks

There have been 259 spacewalks at the International Space Station since December 1998.

Mission accomplished! STEM learning captivates the Artemis Generation to explore potential careers and outlets related to space exploration.

STEM Resources and Opportunities

Explore hands-on activities, interactive, lesson plans, educator guides, and other downloadable content about the International Space Station.

International Space Station with Earth in the background

ISS National Laboratory

In an effort to expand the research opportunities of this unparalleled platform, the space station was designated as a U.S. National Laboratory in 2005 by Congress, enabling space research and development access to a broad range of commercial, academic, and government users. 

NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Flight Engineer Nick Hague pedals on the Cycle Ergometer with Vibration Isolation and Stabilization (CEVIS), an exercise cycle located aboard the International Space Station's Destiny laboratory module. CEVIS provides aerobic and cardiovascular conditioning through recumbent (leaning back position) or upright cycling activities.

Astronaut Health and Training

The International Space Station is humanity’s home in space and a research station orbiting about 250 miles above the Earth. Learn more about astronaut health and training.

Media

10 Images

Spacewalker Woody Hoburg rides the Canadarm2 robotic arm.
NASA astronaut and Expedition 68 Flight Engineer Nicole Mann is pictured in her Extravehicular Mobility Unit, or spacesuit, during her second spacewalk
Astronaut Clay Anderson, Expedition 15 flight engineer, waves to the camera while participating in a session of extravehicular activity (EVA) as construction continues on the International Space Station. During the 7-hour 41-minute spacewalk, Anderson and cosmonaut Fyodor N. Yurchikhin (out of frame), commander representing Russia's Federal Space Agency, installed a television camera stanchion, reconfigured a power supply for an antenna assembly, and performed several get-ahead tasks. Also, while riding on the end of the Canadarm2, Anderson jettisoned the Early Ammonia Servicer (EAS) by shoving it opposite of the station's direction of travel. The station's robotic arm end effector is at left.
The International Space Station pictured from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour during a fly around.
This mosaic depicts the International Space Station pictured from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour during a fly around of the orbiting lab.
Photo of exterior view of the International Space Station, taken by NASA astronaut Ron Garan during a spacewalk conducted on July 12, 2011. The photo shows the space station with a Fisheye Camera and the curvature of Earth below.
The ISS pictured above the Nile Delta.
The space station orbits above Queensland, Australia.
The ISS pictured from the SpaceX Crew Dragon.
Astronaut Susan J. Helms works while holding onto a rigid umbilical and with her feet anchored to the remote manipulator system (RMS) robot arm on the Space Shuttle Discovery. This extravehicular activity (EVA), on which Helms was joined by astronaut James S. Voss (out of frame), was the first of two scheduled STS-102 space walks. The pair, destined to become members of the Expedition Two crew aboard the station later in the mission, rode aboard Discovery into orbit and at the time of this EVA were still regarded as STS-102 mission specialists.

To view more images, visit the Space Station Gallery.

Space Station Videos

A YouTube playlist containing a variety of videos about the International Space Station.Watch More Videosabout Space Station Videos

Against the black backdrop of the vacuum of space, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, entirely shielded by a spacesuit, works on maintenance outside the International Space Station. Using a wrench-type tool in his hands, he makes adjustments to a white outer layer of the orbiting laboratory.

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  • Page Last Updated:Jan 30, 2025
  • Page Editor:Mark A. Garcia
  • Responsible NASA Official:Abigail Bowman
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