Space Stations: A Global Endeavor

International Space Stations

Space stations serve as platforms for astronauts to live and work in space for extended periods. The International Space Station (ISS) is the most famous and collaborative effort involving NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA, and CSA. It orbits Earth at an average altitude of 400 kilometers and has been continuously inhabited by astronauts from around the world since 2000.

Other nations, such as China and Russia, have developed their own space stations. China’s Tiangong station aims to enhance scientific research in space, while Russia’s space stations have been pivotal in advancing human spaceflight.

Did You Know?

• The ISS orbits Earth approximately once every 90 minutes.
• The Tiangong space station is China’s most ambitious space station project.
• Space stations are critical for research on human health in space.
• Russia’s Mir space station was the first modular space station launched in 1986.