Why was the ISS built?
The ISS was built to be a laboratory, observatory, and factory housed in space. Some of its first intended purposes were transport and for future missions to Mars, the Moon, other planets, and asteroids. Later, in 2010, the ISS was given other roles like serving educational or diplomatic purposes. Today, the ISS is used for research and to conduct experiments to do with biology, human biology, physics,astronomy, meteorology. It serves as a microgravity and space research facility. It can also test systems and equipment for future trips to the Moon and to Mars. The ISS is further developing techniques and materials for space flight to near - Earth planets and objects as well.
The expeditions that the ISS has done
The flights to the ISS are broken up into expeditions. These expeditions last roughly half a year. There have been many expeditions that have included the ISS and expeditions 1-6 had approximately 3-4 people in each crew. Unfortunately, after a the Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster the crew minimized to include just two people in flights to the ISS. Then, after expedition 13, the crew regained it original size of three persons. Later on, the crew making fight to the ISS further maximize to include six astronauts. They took shifts of three to man the seats of the Space Shuttle. after the crew became six, the manufacturers had to make the ISS bigger to accommodate all of these people.
The origins of the ISS
The ISS was based on a series of other space crafts such as the Russian/Soviet Mir-2 and NASA's Freedom. Originally, NASA planned to launch a space craft called Freedom but it was never launched and parts of it were used eventually to create the new ISS. In Rome in early 1985, scientists wanted to build a module that would attach to Freedom. It was called Columbus. Sadly, like the Freedom, it was never launched and was later also broken up to be a part of the space station as well. In September 1993, American Vice-President Al Gore and Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin announced that they would be authorizing the creation of a new space station, the ISS. they also announced that the USA would now be able to participate in the Mir program.
Facts
1. Astronauts can vote from the ISS by sending their vote to earth via a beaming
system.
2. The ISS houses exercise machines to keep astronauts in shape.
3. The ISS cost $100 billion to build and to launch.
4. Nearly 200 people
have visited the ISS from over 12 countries.
5. The longest log from a female
astronaut was 376 days. The longest log from a male astronaut was 803
days.
6. The ISS has a Hall of Fame for astronauts who have been
exceptional on the ISS
7 The ISS has been continuously
inhabited with approximately 11 - 12 people at a time.
system.
2. The ISS houses exercise machines to keep astronauts in shape.
3. The ISS cost $100 billion to build and to launch.
4. Nearly 200 people
have visited the ISS from over 12 countries.
5. The longest log from a female
astronaut was 376 days. The longest log from a male astronaut was 803
days.
6. The ISS has a Hall of Fame for astronauts who have been
exceptional on the ISS
7 The ISS has been continuously
inhabited with approximately 11 - 12 people at a time.