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International Space Station

International Space Station
A rearward view of the International Space Station backdropped by the limb of the Earth. In view are the station's four large, gold-coloured solar array wings, two on either side of the station, mounted to a central truss structure. Further along the truss are six large, white radiators, three next to each pair of arrays. In between the solar arrays and radiators is a cluster of pressurised modules arranged in an elongated T shape, also attached to the truss. A set of blue solar arrays are mounted to the module at the aft end of the cluster.
The International Space Station on 23 May 2010 as seen from the departing Space Shuttle Atlantis during STS-132.
Station statistics
COSPAR ID 1998-067A
SATCAT № 25544
Call sign Alpha, Station
Crew Fully crewed: 6
Currently aboard: 6
(Expedition 50)
Launch 20 November 1998 (1998-11-20)
Launch pad
Mass ≈ 419,455 kg (924,740 lb)
Length 72.8 m (239 ft)
Width 108.5 m (356 ft)
Height ≈ 20 m (66 ft)
nadir–zenith, arrays forward–aft
(27 November 2009)
Pressurised volume 931.57 m3 (32,898 cu ft)
(28 May 2016)
Atmospheric pressure 101.3 kPa (29.9 inHg; 1.0 atm)
Perigee 400.2 km (248.7 mi) AMSL
Apogee 409.5 km (254.5 mi) AMSL
Orbital inclination 51.64 degrees
Orbital speed 7.67 km/s (27,600 km/h; 17,200 mph)
Orbital period 92.65 minutes
Orbits per day 15.54 rev/day
Orbit epoch 30 September 2016, 18:10:52 UTC
Days in orbit 18 years, 2 months, 10 days
(30 January)
Days occupied 16 years, 2 months, 28 days
(30 January)
Number of orbits 101,081 As of July 2016
Orbital decay 2 km/month
Statistics as of 9 March 2011
(unless noted otherwise)
References:
Configuration
The components of the ISS in an exploded diagram, with modules on-orbit highlighted in orange, and those still awaiting launch in blue or pink
Station elements as of August 2016
(exploded view)

The International Space Station (ISS) is a space station, or a habitable artificial satellite, in low Earth orbit. Its first component launched into orbit in 1998, and the ISS is now the largest artificial body in orbit and can often be seen with the naked eye from Earth. The ISS consists of pressurised modules, external trusses, solar arrays, and other components. ISS components have been launched by Russian Proton and Soyuz rockets, and American Space Shuttles.

The ISS serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory in which crew members conduct experiments in biology, human biology, physics, astronomy, meteorology, and other fields. The station is suited for the testing of spacecraft systems and equipment required for missions to the Moon and Mars. The ISS maintains an orbit with an altitude of between 330 and 435 km (205 and 270 mi) by means of reboost manoeuvres using the engines of the Zvezda module or visiting spacecraft. It completes 15.54 orbits per day.

The ISS is the ninth space station to be inhabited by crews, following the Soviet and later Russian Salyut, Almaz, and Mir stations as well as Skylab from the US. The station has been continuously occupied for 16 years and 89 days since the arrival of Expedition 1 on 2 November 2000. This is the longest continuous human presence in low Earth orbit, having surpassed the previous record of 9 years and 357 days held by Mir. The station is serviced by a variety of visiting spacecraft: the Russian Soyuz and Progress, the American Dragon and Cygnus, the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle, and formerly the Space Shuttle and the European Automated Transfer Vehicle. It has been visited by astronauts, cosmonauts and space tourists from 17 different nations.


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