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International Space Station

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International Space Station

The International Space Station is a collaborative project between five space agencies: NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA, and CSA; and 16 nations. The Space Station serves as a floating laboratory in Low-Earth orbit. First launched in 1998, the station has been continually occupied by humans since 2000 and sees continual updates.

Partner Nations and Space Agencies

The International Space Station, in its name, is an international cooperation between both space agencies and nations. All these nations support funding for maintaining and providing experiments and crew for the station.

List of member agencies

  • NASA
  • Roscosmos
  • ESA
  • JAXA
  • CSA

List of partner nations

  • Belgium
  • Denmark
  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America

Spacecraft that support space station operations

Crew Spacecraft

SpacecraftCountryCrew CapacityRocketStatus
CST-100 StarlinerUS (Boeing)4 crew membersAtlas VIn Development
Crew DragonUS (SpaceX)4 crew membersFalcon 9Operational
SoyuzRussia3 crew membersSoyuzOperational
Space ShuttleUS8 crew membersSpace ShuttleRetired

Cargo Spacecraft

SpacecraftCountryCargo CapacityRocketStatus
Dream ChaserUS (Sierra Space)5,500 kg to ISS; 1,750 kg returnedVulcanIn Development
HTV-XJapan7,200 kg to ISSH3In Development
ProgressRussia2,400 kg to ISS;SoyuzOperational
CygnusUS (Northrop Grumman)2,000 kg to ISS;Antares / Atlas VOperational
Dragon 2US (SpaceX)6,000 kg to ISS; 3,000 kg returnedFalcon 9Operational
H-II Transfer VehicleJapan6,000 kg to ISS;H-IIBRetired
DragonUS (SpaceX)6,000 kg to ISS; 3,000 kg returnedFalcon 9Retired

Rockets which launch Space Station modules

RocketVehicle CountrySegments LaunchedVehicle Status
ProtonRussiaZarya, Zvezda, NaukaOperational
SoyuzRussiaPirs, PoiskOperational
Space ShuttleUnited StatesUnity, Destiny, Harmony, Columbus, Rassvet, Leonardo, Quest, Tranquility, Cupola, JEM-ELM-PS, JEM-PMRetired
Falcon 9United StatesBEAM Operational
Rockets that have launched Space Station modules

Earth-based surgeons control robot aboard ISS in historic experiment

In an experiment conducted over the weekend, surgeons stationed on Earth achieved a significant milestone by remotely controlling a small robot to perform surgery aboard the International Space Station. This highly anticipated event, involving the cutting of rubber bands as part of a surgical simulation, marks the first surgery of its kind in orbit that plays a giant leap in the development of space surgery capabilities. 

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The first all European spaceflight mission lifts off with Axiom

Thursday afternoon SpaceX launched the Axiom-3 mission out of Kennedy Space Center making it its first human spaceflight mission of the year. Another milestone first was it being the first entirely European crewed mission ever with all four astronauts holding citizenship from a European nation.

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Thanksgiving in space over the years

For 20 years there has been a human presence in space on board the International Space Station (ISS). In those 20 years plenty of astronauts have made the sacrifice to be away from family and friends during Thanksgiving to continue the world’s push for new scientific discovery. Even though they are in space and remain busy, they still get the chance to celebrate the holiday.

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Crew-7 astronauts arrive in Florida ahead of flight to International Space Station

The four members of the Crew-7 mission arrived at Kennedy Space Center and are in the final quarantine phase before starting their journey to the International Space Station. Launch week has begun with several events taking place as we get ready to see Crew-7 liftoff.

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Final foreign-built Antares rocket launches with cargo for the ISS

Yesterday evening, Northrop Grumman successfully launched its final Antares 220+ rocket from Wallops Island, Virginia. The NG-19 mission carried Northrop’s Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station, transporting essential supplies such as food, experiments, and other cargo for the crew.

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Who is flying on SpaceX’s Crew-7 mission later this month?

Next month, SpaceX is set to launch its seventh rotation of crew members to the International Space Station for NASA. The upcoming Crew-7 mission is notable for being the most diverse crew to fly on a Dragon spacecraft, with all four members hailing from different nations and agencies – a first for SpaceX.

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Axiom-2 liftoffs with first Saudi woman astronaut

Sunday afternoon, the second private mission by Axiom to the International Space Station lifted off from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. This marked the first spaceflight of a Saudi female astronaut, the return to space of commander Peggy Whitson, and the start of RTLS landings for crewed Falcon 9 flights.

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Chris Hadfield’s ‘Space Oddity’ cover, shot on the ISS, released to the world | This Day in Space (May 12, 2013)

Astronaut Chris Hadfield performs in his iconic Space Oddity music video

Ten years ago today, Astronaut Chris Hadfield released a cover of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” entirely filmed aboard the International Space Station. He released the song the same day he relinquished command of the International Space Station, and he returned to Earth in a Soyuz capsule the following day.

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Redwire and Microsoft to resurrect the Zune in space

Well, I didn’t expect to see Zune come across the news desk this week. I could probably leave you with the headline, and most of you would be surprised to see the name but not shocked the failed MP3 player can only be used as a PR stunt now.

Anyways, what is the Zune doing in space? Well, there’s both a fictional and non-fictional part to this story.

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The world’s greatest research station gets a boost to at least 2028 by its partners

ISS

The International Space Station, a feat of world cooperation, is set to live for a few more years with all its partners agreeing to extend their partnership with NASA. While the world looks to the commercial sector for a successor, the public sector will continue to fund its station until at least 2028.

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NASA delayed Boeing Crewed Flight Test all the way back to July

Starliner Capsule secured to Atlas Rocket

It looked like Boeing would have a fantastic April with the launch of its first crewed flight of the Starliner spacecraft. However, now it seems like we’re going to have to wait until July before we see this milestone launch from the company to the International Space Station.

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