International Space Station

Context- The International Space Station (ISS) turned 25 years old on November 20, 2023. The first ISS module was launched in 1998.

When was the International Space Station launched?

• The first segment of the ISS – the Zarya Control Module – was of Russian origin and launched on November 20, 1998.  
• Zarya provided fuel storage and battery power and was a docking area for other spacecraft arriving at the ISS.  
• Later, in December 1998, the United States released the Unity Node 1 module. 
• These two modules together were the beginning of the workspace laboratory. 
• During 42 assembly flights, the ISS became what it is today.  

What scientific discoveries of the ISS have benefited life on Earth?  

• Astronauts have conducted hundreds of scientific experiments on the ISS.  
• From Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s to cancer, asthma and heart disease, everything has been studied in space.  
• Scientists say some medical experiments are best done in space because cells behave more in microgravity than inside the human body, but those conditions are difficult to recreate on Earth. 
• The discoveries are to be used in drug development, new water purification systems, methods to alleviate muscle and bone atrophy, and those that have led to innovations in food production.  

How long will the ISS operate? 

• Plans for the future operation of the ISS were thrown into uncertainty when the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in early 2022.  
• Both the European Space Agency and national bodies abandoned international cooperation with Russia.  
• Russia later announced that it would abandon the ISS and build its own space station. 
• Old and new space  nations also want to leave their own independent mark in space. 
• These include Japan, China, India,  United Arab Emirates and others.  
• The US and Europe have said they are committed to the International Space Station until 2030.  
• But there are also plans  for the world after the ISS:  NASA is almost entirely focused on the Artemis program and plans to colonize the Moon. 
• ESA is working on a new space station, which it calls Starlab. 

What is International Space Station (ISS)?

• The ISS is a large spacecraft in low earth orbit.  
• It is a habitable spacecraft that orbits the Earth at an average altitude of approximately 420 kilometers (260 miles).  
• It will serve as a unique and collaborative space laboratory, research facility and living space for astronauts and cosmonauts from various countries.  

What are the characteristics of the ISS?  

• Construction and ownership  

• • • The most important partners are NASA (USA), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (European Space Agency), JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) and CSA (Canadian Space Agency).  
    • In 2022, Russia announced that it would abandon the ISS after 2024 and focus on building its own orbital outpost.  
    • These agencies provided modules, components and resources to build and maintain the station.  

• Size and structure  

• • • The ISS is quite large, with a mass of approximately 460 tons and a living space approximately equivalent to the interior of a Boeing 747 airplane.
    • It consists of various interconnected modules and components, including laboratories, housing and docking ports. 

• Course and duration  

• • • It travels at a speed of 8 kilometers (5 miles) per second. 
    • This means that it orbits the Earth every 90 minutes.  
    • It passes over our heads 16 times in 24 hours – going through 16 sunrises and sunsets. 
    • Assignments usually last six months, although some team members may stay for shorter or longer periods. 

• International team  

• • The ISS is home to a constantly rotating crew of astronauts and cosmonauts from different countries. 
  • These crew members live and work on the station for  months at a time, conducting experiments, maintaining systems, and performing various tasks necessary to keep the station operational.  

Why is the space station important? 

• One of the main goals of the ISS is to conduct scientific research and experiments in the unique microgravity environment of space.  Microgravity is often referred to as near-zero gravity or weightlessness. 
• Scientists around the world use the station to study a wide range of things​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​, including biology, physics, astronomy and earth sciences.  
• The ISS has contributed to the understanding of topics such as human health in space, material science and climate change. 
• People have lived in space every day since the first crew arrived.

Source: Indian Express

Practice question:

Q. What is the primary purpose of the International Space Station (ISS)?

1. Interstellar exploration
2. Lunar colonization
3. Microgravity research and experimentation
4. Deep space communication

Download as PDF