Feature

The International Space Station

The International Space Station is a versatile research institute and a large observation platform in outer space for scientific research and applications. It also serves as a test centre to facilitate introduction of new technologies. This permanently human occupied outpost in outer space should also serve as a stepping stone for further space exploration.
 

Dimensions and mass   Width 108 m Length 74 m (~88 m incl. ATV or Progress) Height 45 m Pressurized volume 1200 m3 Total mass at completion ~450 000 kg

 
 

Configuration   On launch     Launched in components on different launch vehicles   provided by 4 of the 5 participating partners. Station assembled in orbit. 1st launch 20 November 1998 Assembly complete 2010 On orbit   Orbital altitude 370-460 km Orbital inclination 51.6° Orbital velocity 7.7-7.6 km/s (~27 500 km/h)

 
 

Available launch vehicles European Ariane-5 launcher Japanese H-IIA launcher Russian Proton launcher Russian Soyuz launcher United States Space Shuttle

 
 

Available transport vehicles for crew and/or supplies   European Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) Servicing and logistics vehicle Japanese HII Transfer Vehicle (HTV) Servicing and logistics vehicle Russian Soyuz spacecraft Manned spacecraft that accommodates upto 3 cosmonauts Russian Progress vehicle Servicing and logistics vehicle US Space Shuttle Manned spacecraft for up to 7 astronauts   Equipped with the Multi Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), the Un-pressurized Logistics Carrier (ULC)   or other Space Station structural parts in its cargo bay

 
 

Partners Canada, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Europe, European Space Agency (ESA) representing 10 of the 18 Member States Japan, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Russia, Roscosmos USA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

 
 
Last update: 6 November 2009