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International Space Station

WIth First Element Launch in 1998 and involving the US, Russia, Canada, Japan, and the participating countries of the European Space Agency — the International Space Station is the most ambitious international collaborations ever attempted. It has been visited by astronauts from 14 countries. Operating the space station is even more complicated than other space flight endeavors because it is an international program. The station requires the support of facilities on the Earth managed by all of the international partner agencies, countries and commercial entities involved in the program.

According to NASA's estimates, the space station's operational life will come to an end with a controlled de-orbit in January 2031. The hub for scientific research will be replaced by commercial space platforms. NASA laid out the details of how it plans to retire the International Space Station (ISS) in an official transition plan for the station that was sent to US Congress in January 2022. The US space agency intends to retire the landmark research outpost within the next eight to nine years, plunging the massive structure into a remote part of the Pacific Ocean, nicknamed Spacecraft Cemetery.

NASA’s history has proven that humans are able to live safely and work in space. The ISS serves as a platform to extend and sustain human activities in preparation for long-duration, exploration-class missions. It provides opportunities to address critical medical questions about astronaut health through multidisciplinary research operations to advance understanding and capabilities for space exploration.

The multi-disciplinary biomedical research on the ISS include studies addressing behavioral health and performance, bone and muscle physiology, exercise countermeasures, cardiovascular physiology, nutrition, and immunology. These life sciences research studies aim to provide a thorough understanding of the many physiologic changes that occur in a microgravity environment. Among the many physiological changes that occur in the human body include susceptibility to fainting after landing, vision changes potentially because of the harmful effects of microgravity on the eye and optic nerve, changes in blood volume, reduction in heart size and capacity, alterations in posture and locomotion, decreases in aerobic capacity and muscle tone, difficulty sleeping, increased risk for renal stone formation, and weakened bones.

The research focuses on astronaut health and performance and the development of countermeasures that will protect crew members from the space environment during long-duration voyages, evaluate new technologies to meet the needs of future exploration missions and develop and validate operational procedures for long-duration space missions.

The ISS provides an infrastructure capable of demonstrating prototypes and systems that may advance spaceflight technology readiness. The space station, the in-orbit crew, the launch and return vehicles, and the operation control centers are all supporting the demonstration of advanced systems and operational concepts that will be needed for future exploration missions. The International Space Station modules serve as a habitat for its crew and provide ports for docking and berthing of visiting vehicles. The station functions as a microgravity and life sciences laboratory, test bed for new Elements and Support Systems technologies, and platform for Earth and celestial observations.

Functional Cargo Block (FGB) Zarya (Sunrise) was the first launched element of the ISS, built in Russia under a U.S. contract. During the early stages of ISS assembly, the FGB was selfcontained, providing power, communications, and attitude control functions. Now, the FGB module is used primarily for storage and propulsion. The FGB was based on the modules of Mir. The U.S. Laboratory Module, called Destiny, is the primary research laboratory for U.S. payloads, supporting a wide range of experiments and studies. Destiny provides internal interfaces to accommodate 24 equipment racks for accommodation and control of ISS systems and scientific research.

The Columbus Research Laboratory is Europe’s largest contribution to the International Space Station. Columbus is a multifunctional pressurized laboratory permanently attached to Node 2 of the ISS. The Columbus laboratory’s flexibility provides room for the researchers on the ground, aided by the station’s crew, to conduct thousands of experiments in life sciences, materials sciences, fluid physics and other research in a weightless environment not possible on Earth. In addition, experiments and applications can be conducted outside the module within the vacuum of space, thanks to four exterior mounting platforms that can accommodate external payloads in space science, Earth observation and technology.

The Japanese Experiment Module (JEM), known as “Kibo” (pronounced keybow), which means “hope” in Japanese, is Japan’s human-rated space facility and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA’s) first contribution to the ISS program. Kibo was designed and developed with a view to conducting scientific research activities on orbit. Thus, as a part of the ISS, Kibo provides extensive opportunities for utilization of the space environment performing experimental activities. Resources necessary for Kibo’s on-orbit operation, such as air, power, data, and cooling fluid, are provided from the U.S. segment of the ISS.

Nodes are modules that connect the elements of the ISS. Node 1, called Unity, was the first U.S.-built element that was launched, and it connects the U.S. and Russian segments. Node 2 (Harmony) and Node 3 (Tranquility) are European-built elements and are each one rack bay longer than Node 1. Node 2 connects the U.S., European, and Japanese laboratories, as well as providing a nadir berthing port and a forward PMA-2 docking port. Node 3 is attached to the port side of Node 1 and provides accommodation for life-support and exercise quipment.

The Quest Airlock is a pressurized space station module consisting of two compartments attached end-to-end by a connecting bulkhead and hatch. The two compartments consist of: the Equipment Lock, which provides the systems and volume for suit maintenance and refurbishment, and the Crew Lock, which provides the actual exit for performing EVAs.

The Cupola (named after the raised observation deck on a railroad caboose) is a small module designed for the observation of operations outside the ISS such as robotic activities, the approach of vehicles, and extravehicular activity (EVA). It was built in Europe by Thales Alenia Space Italy (TAS-I) under contract of the European Space Agency. It provides spectacular views of Earth and celestial objects. The Cupola has six side windows and a direct nadir viewing window, all of which are equipped with shutters to protect them from contamination and collisions with orbital debris or micrometeorites.

Derived from the Leonardo Multi-purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), the Italian-built Permanent Multi-Purpose Module (PMM) can host up to 16 racks containing equipment, experiments, and supplies, and it has additional storage space for bags in the aft endcone. Docking Compartment (DC) Pirs (Pier) served as a docking port for the Russian Segment. Pirs also provided the capability for extravehicular activity (EVA) using Russian Orlan spacesuits and provides systems for servicing and refurbishing of the spacesuits. The nadir Docking System on Pirs provides a port for the docking of Soyuz and Progress vehicles.

Mini-Research Module 2 (MRM2) Poisk (Explore), is almost identical to the Pirs Docking Compartment. Poisk provides the capability for extravehicular activity (EVA) and servicing/refurbishing of the Russian Orlan spacesuits. The zenith docking system on Poisk provides a port for the docking of Soyuz and Progress logistics vehicles. Poisk also provides extra space for scientific experiments, including power supply outlets and data transmission interfaces for five external workstations (one three-port active and four passive) to accommodate science payloads for observation of the upper hemisphere and for exposure.

Mini-Research Module 1 (MRM1) Rassvet (Dawn) is primarily used for cargo storage; being equipped with eight internal workstations. It serves as a mini-research laboratory for biological and biotechnological investigations, as well as for experiments in material sciences and fluid physics. The nadir docking system on Rassvet provides the fourth docking port on the Russian segment for the docking of Soyuz and Progress logistics vehicles.

Service Module (SM) Zvezda (Star) was the first fully Russian contribution, providing early living quarters, life-support system, electrical power distribution, data processing system, flight control system, and propulsion system. Its communications system still enables remote command capabilities from ground flight controllers. Although some of these systems were subsequently supplemented by U.S. systems, the Service Module remains the structural and functional center of the Russian segment of the ISS.

The Canadarm Mobile Servicing System (MSS) is a sophisticated robotics suite that plays a critical role in the assembly, maintenance, and resupply of the ISS. The MSS Operations Complex in Saint Hubert, Quebec, is the ground base for the MSS, which is composed of three robots that can work together or independently. The MSS was built for the CSA by MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA).