International Space Station

The International Space Station (ISS) is a joint project of 6 space agencies: the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Russian Federal Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Canadian Space Agency (CSA/ASC), Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) and the European Space Agency (ESA, with members United Kingdom, Ireland, Portugal, Austria and Finland choosing not to participate; Greece and Luxembourg joined ESA later http://www.esa.int/esaHS/partstates.html).

Building the ISS

• ISS assembly sequence

Building the ISS will require more than 50 assembly and utilization flights. Of these flights, 39 are Space Shuttle flights. In addition to the assembly and utilization flights, approximately 30 Progress spacecraft flights are required to provide logistics. When assembly is complete, the ISS will have a pressurized volume of 1,200 cubic meters, a mass of 419,000 kilograms, 110 kilowatts of power output, a truss 108.4 meters long, modules 74 meters long, and a crew of six.

Related Topics:
Space Shuttle - Progress spacecraft

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The station consists of several modules and elements:

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Launched on periodic resupply missions

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• Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM)

Scheduled for launch by Shuttle after return to flight

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(listed in order of planned launch sequence)

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• Node 2 (launch ~12/06)
• Columbus Laboratory (launch ~03/07)
• Japanese Experiment Module (JEM), aka KIBO (launch ~09/07)
• Node 3 - (launch ~05/08)
• Centrifuge Accommodations Module (launch ~7/09)
• Science Power Platform (launch ~10/10)
• Cupola - (launch ~03/09)

Scheduled for launch by Proton rocket

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• Multipurpose Laboratory Module FGB-2 based - (launch ~2007)
• European Robotic Arm (ERA) (2007),
• Russian Research Module reduced to 1 (launch ~2009)

Cancelled elements

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• Universal Docking Module - cancelled, replaced by (MLM - FGB2)
• Docking and Stowage Module - cancelled
• Habitation Module - cancelled
• Crew Return Vehicle (CRV) - cancelled
• Interim Control Module - cancelled, no need to replace Zvezda
• ISS Propulsion Module - cancelled, no need to replace Zvezda

Visiting spacecrafts

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• Soyuz spacecraft for crew rotation and emergency evacuation, replaced every 6 months
• Progress spacecraft - resupply vehicle
• European (ESA) Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) ISS resupply spacecraft
• Japanese (JAXA) H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) resupply vehicle for KIBO module

There is also a large unpressurized truss system partially in place that will eventually support the prominent solar arrays.

Related Topics:
Truss - Solar arrays

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