The International Space Station Missions

The International Space Station, or ISS, is a big space lab that orbits Earth. Astronauts from many countries live and work on it. They do science experiments and learn how to live in space. The ISS is one of the greatest exploration projects ever built.

Building the ISS

The ISS was built piece by piece in space. The first part was launched in 1998. Over many years, rockets brought up more parts. Astronauts connected them during spacewalks. Fifteen countries worked together to build it. Today, the ISS is about as big as a football field.

Life on the ISS

Astronauts on the ISS float because there is very little gravity. They eat food from pouches and sleep in sleeping bags attached to the wall. They exercise every day to keep their muscles strong. They also do science experiments that cannot be done on Earth. Crews usually stay for about six months at a time.

Fun Facts

• The ISS orbits Earth about 16 times every day, traveling at 17,500 miles per hour.
• Astronauts on the ISS see 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets every day.
• The ISS has been lived in nonstop since November 2000.

Did You Know?

You can sometimes see the ISS from the ground. It looks like a bright star moving quickly across the night sky.