Image Credit: science.NASA.gov
Image Credit: NASA
The International Space Station (ISS) is as large as a football field, weighing 419 tonnes and measuring 109 meters in length.
Gigantic Structure:
Image Credit: Space.com
The ISS travels at 28,165 kilometers per hour, completing 16 orbits around Earth daily, offering 16 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours. .
High-Speed Orbits:
Image Credit: NASA
Serving as a research hub, the ISS hosts experiments in microgravity that advance knowledge in biology, physics, astronomy, and materials science.
Scientific Laboratory:
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Constructing and maintaining the ISS has cost over $150 billion, reflecting the scale of international financial commitment.
Expensive Investment:
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Managed by five space agencies from 15 countries, the ISS is a symbol of international cooperation, though India is not part of this consortium.
Global Collaboration:
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Since November 2000, the ISS has hosted astronauts with amenities including two bathrooms, a gym, and a panoramic bay window.
Continuous Habitation:
Image Credit: NASA
Advanced recycling systems on the ISS convert sweat and urine into drinkable water, supporting long-duration missions.
Sustainable Systems:
Image Credit: NASA
The ISS environment fosters resilient microorganisms, known as 'super bugs,' which pose unique challenges for crew health and maintenance.
Microbial Challenges:
Image Credit: earth.com
The ISS is visible to the naked eye from Earth and can be tracked through NASA’s resources, making it an exciting object for stargazers.
Visible from Earth:
Image Credit: earth.com
India plans to send an astronaut to the ISS and aims to establish its own space station, the Bhartiya Antariksha Station, by 2040.
Future Plans: