Home » Science & Nature » The Solar System » Home Sweet Home: The International Space Station

Home Sweet Home: The International Space Station

© Pattie Stechschulte

With the cooperation and resources of 16 countries, the International Space Station will be four times the size of the Russian Mir station and will house a state-of-the-art laboratory.

Over 160 spacewalks will be needed to completely assemble the station in a five-year process between the U.S. and Russian crews. Also, to gather all the necessary equipment and modules, it will take a total of 46 missions - 37 by different Space Shuttles and 9 by Russian rockets.

The first two components were launched and assembled in space in December 1998 - the Zarya and Unity modules. The Russian-built Zarya unit has a propulsion system, steering and communications for use in the early stages of construction. Later, the unit will be used as a passageway, docking port and fuel tank. Zarya was attached to the Unity connecting module, which has six attachment ports. Once connected, they formed the new International Space Station that is traveling 250 miles above the Earth and is continually monitored by technicians in Houston and Moscow.

In May 1999, a shuttle crew docked at the station to deliver almost two tons of supplies for a future crew that included everything from clothing to computers to water. The astronauts also installed a crane and other space walking tools to the station's exterior.

The Zvezda Service module, was assembled in July, it contains the early living quarters for crew members including navigation, life support and communications. It also serves as a passageway from the Unity to Zvezda modules and relieves the guidance and propulsion functions from the Zarya module.

A three-person crew occupied the station for the first time in October for four months to test the station. While at the station, the crew members connected the first solar array to the station during two space walks, which will supply power for the research work.

In February, a space shuttle crew delivered the first laboratory "Destiny" and installed it using the shuttle's robotic arm. Last month, another shuttle mission delivered a second load of supplies including an Italian-made module that houses laboratory equipment. Also, a framework house was added with the gyroscope systems and a docking adapter. During this mission, the shuttle delivered a second crew to the station while returning the first crew to Earth.

Last week, the Shuttle Endeavor delivered two more components to the station - Canadian robotic arm and the Italian Raffaello logistics module.

The copyright of the article Home Sweet Home: The International Space Station in The Solar System is owned by Pattie Stechschulte. Permission to republish Home Sweet Home: The International Space Station in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.