"What if we built a bridge, between and above all nations, to jointly discover the galaxy's great unknowns?"
Media Credit: Video courtesy of NASA
Just as the oceans opened up a new world for clipper ships and Yankee traders, space holds enormous potential for commerce today.The International Space Station (ISS)took 10 years and more than 30 missions to assemble. It is the result of unprecedented scientific and engineering collaboration among five space agencies representing 15 countries. The space station is approximately the size of a football field: a 460-ton, permanently crewed platform orbiting 250 miles above Earth. It is about four times as large as the Russian space station Mir and five times as large as the U.S. Skylab.
The idea of a space station was once science fiction, existing only in the imagination until it became clear in the 1940s that construction of such a structure might be attainable by our nation. As the Space Age began in the 1950s, designs of “space planes” and stations dominated popular media. The first rudimentary station was created in 1969 by the linking of two Russian Soyuz vehicles in space, followed by other stations and developments in space technology until construction began on the ISS in 1998, aided by the first reusable spacecraft ever developed: the American shuttles.
Until recently, U.S. research space onboard the ISS had been reserved for mostly government initiatives, but new opportunities for commercial and academic use of the ISS are now available, facilitated by the ISS National Lab.
ISS Historical Timeline
Reagan directs NASA to build the ISS
January 25, 1984"Just as the oceans opened up a new world for clipper ships and Yankee traders, space holds enormous potential for commerce today". President Ronald Reagan's State of the Union Address directs NASA to build an international space station within the next 10 years.
First ISS Segment Launches
November 20, 1998The first segment of the ISS launches: The Zarya Control Module launched aboard a Russian Proton rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. Zarya (translates to "sunrise") supplied fuel storage, battery power and rendezvous and docking capability for Soyuz and Progress space vehicles.
First U.S.-built component launches
December 4, 1998Unity Node 1 module—the first U.S.-built component of the International Space Station— launches into orbit two weeks later during the STS-88 mission. Joining Unity with the Zarya module was the first step in the assembly of the orbiting laboratory.
First Crew to Reside on Station
November 2, 2000NASA Astronaut Bill Shepherd and cosmonauts Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev become the first crew to reside onboard the station. Expedition 1 spent four months onboard completing tasks necessary to bring the ISS "to life" and began what is now more than 20 years of continuous human presence in space.
U.S. Lab Module Added
February 7, 2001Destiny, the U.S. Laboratory module, becomes part of the station. The lab—that increased onboard living space by 41%—continues to be the primary research laboratory for U.S. payloads.
U.S. Lab Module Recognized as Newest U.S. National Laboratory
December 30, 2005Congress designates the U.S. portion of the ISS as the nation's newest national laboratory to maximize its use for other U.S. government agencies and for academic and private institutions.
European Lab Joins the ISS
February 7, 2008The European Space Agency’s Columbus Laboratory becomes part of the station.
Japanese Lab Joins the ISS
March 11, 2008The first Japanese Kibo laboratory module becomes part of the station.
ISS 10-Year Anniversary
November 2, 2010The ISS celebrates its 10-year anniversary of continuous human occupation. Since Expedition 1 in the fall of 2000, 202 people had visited the station.
NASA Issues Cooperative Agreement
February 2011NASA issues a cooperative agreement notice for amanagement partner.
NASA Selects the ISS National Lab
July 2011NASA selects the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space to manage the ISS National Lab.
The First ISS National Lab Research Flight
September 30, 2013Proteins can be grown as crystals in space with nearly perfect three-dimensional structures useful for the development of new drugs. The ISS National Lab's protein crystal growth (PCG) series of flights began in 2013, allowing researchers to utilize the unique environment of the ISS.
As a seasoned space exploration enthusiast and expert, I've closely followed the developments in space technology, international collaboration, and the utilization of space assets for scientific and commercial purposes. My knowledge spans decades of space exploration, from the early designs of "space planes" and stations in the 1950s to the present-day utilization of the International Space Station (ISS) for groundbreaking research.
The ISS, a testament to human ingenuity and collaboration, has captured my attention since its inception. It took a decade of meticulous planning and execution, involving more than 30 missions and unprecedented collaboration among five space agencies representing 15 countries. This enormous structure, equivalent to the size of a football field, orbits 250 miles above Earth, serving as a permanently crewed platform.
The idea of a space station was once confined to science fiction, existing solely in the realm of imagination. However, it became evident in the 1940s that constructing such a structure could be achievable. The Space Age of the 1950s brought forth designs of "space planes" and stations, with the first rudimentary station linking two Russian Soyuz vehicles in space in 1969.
The ISS's construction, initiated in 1998 with the launch of the Zarya Control Module, marked a significant milestone in space exploration. The assembly involved the collaboration of multiple nations, with the United States contributing the first U.S.-built component, the Unity Node 1 module, in December 1998. This marked the beginning of a series of modules and components that eventually led to the fully operational ISS.
Notably, the ISS has not only been a platform for government initiatives but has also opened new opportunities for commercial and academic use. The ISS National Lab, established to facilitate research opportunities, has broadened access to space for various purposes beyond government-sponsored projects.
The historical timeline of the ISS reflects key moments, such as the addition of the U.S. Laboratory module (Destiny) in 2001, the designation of the U.S. portion of the ISS as the nation's newest national laboratory in 2005, and the inclusion of international partners like the European Space Agency's Columbus Laboratory in 2008 and the Japanese Kibo laboratory module in the same year.
One pivotal development occurred in 2013 when the ISS National Lab's protein crystal growth (PCG) series of flights began. This groundbreaking research allowed proteins to be grown as crystals in space, providing nearly perfect three-dimensional structures that are invaluable for developing new drugs. The unique environment of the ISS has enabled researchers to explore novel avenues in scientific discovery.
In conclusion, the ISS stands as a testament to human achievement in space exploration, showcasing the power of international collaboration and the potential for commercial and scientific advancements. The ongoing research on the ISS National Lab continues to push the boundaries of what we can achieve in the realm of space exploration and discovery.
