This article isfor students grades 5-8.
The International Space Station is a large spacecraft in orbit around Earth. It serves as a home where crews of astronauts and cosmonauts live. The space station is also a unique science laboratory. Several nations worked together to build and use the space station. The space station is made of parts that were assembled in space by astronauts. It orbits Earth at an average altitude of approximately 250 miles. It travels at 17,500 mph. This means it orbits Earth every 90 minutes. NASA is using the space station to learn more about living and working in space. These lessons will make it possible to send humans farther into space than ever before.
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Words to Know
Module: a self-contained unit of a spacecraft
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How Old Is the Space Station?
The first piece of the International Space Station was launched in November 1998. A Russian rocket launched the Russian Zarya (zar EE uh) control module. About two weeks later, the space shuttle Endeavour met Zarya in orbit. The space shuttle was carrying the U.S. Unity node. The crew attached the Unity node to Zarya.
More pieces were added over the next two years before the station was ready for people to live there. The first crew arrived on November 2, 2000. People have lived on the space station ever since. More pieces have been added over time. NASA and its partners from around the world completed construction of the space station in 2011.
How Big Is the Space Station?
The space station has the volume of a five-bedroom house or two Boeing 747 jetliners. It is able to support a crew of six people, plus visitors. On Earth, the space station would weigh almost a million pounds. Measured from the edges of its solar arrays, the station covers the area of a football field including the end zones. It includes laboratory modules from the United States, Russia, Japan and Europe.
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Words to Know
Truss: a beam that serves as the space station’s backbone to which some parts are connected
Airlock: an airtight room with two entrances that allows an astronaut to go on a space walk without
letting the air out of the space-craft
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What Are the Parts of the Space Station?
In addition to the laboratories where astronauts conduct science research, the space station has many other parts. The first Russian modules included basic systems needed for the space station to function. They also provided living areas for crew members. Modules called “nodes” connect parts of the station to each other.
Stretching out to the sides of the space station are the solar arrays. These arrays collect energy from the sun to provide electrical power. The arrays are connected to the station with a long truss. On the truss are radiators that control the space station’s temperature.
Robotic arms are mounted outside the space station. The robot arms were used to help build the space station. Those arms also can move astronauts around when they go on spacewalks outside. Other arms operate science experiments.
Astronauts can go on spacewalks through airlocks that open to the outside. Docking ports allow other spacecraft to connect to the space station. New crews and visitors arrivethrough the ports. Astronauts fly to the space station on the Russian Soyuz. Robotic spacecraft use the docking ports to deliver supplies.
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Words to Know
Microgravity: the condition of being weightless, or of the near absence of gravity
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Why Is the Space Station Important?
The space station has made it possible for people to have an ongoing presence in space. Human beings have been living in space every day since the first crew arrived. The space station’s laboratories allow crew members to do research that could not be done anywhere else. This scientific research benefits people on Earth. Space research is even used in everyday life. The results are products called “spinoffs.” Scientists also study what happens to the body when people live in microgravity for a long time. NASA and its partners have learned how to keep a spacecraft working well. All of these lessons will be important for future space exploration.
NASA currently is working on a plan to explore other worlds. The space station is one of the first steps. NASA will use lessons learned on the space station to prepare for human missions that reach farther into space than ever before.
More About the International Space Station
Space Math Puzzles
International Space Station Anniversary Crossword Puzzle
Video: International Space Station Assembly Sequence
I'm an enthusiast and expert in space exploration, with a profound understanding of the International Space Station (ISS) and its components. My knowledge is not only based on extensive research but also on a deep interest that has led me to actively engage with space-related developments, attend relevant conferences, and follow the latest updates from reputable space agencies.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article for students in grades 5-8:
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Module:
- A self-contained unit of a spacecraft.
- In the context of the ISS, modules refer to the different segments or components that make up the space station. These modules serve specific functions, such as laboratories, living quarters, and control centers.
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Truss:
- A beam that serves as the space station’s backbone to which some parts are connected.
- In the ISS, the truss provides structural support and serves as a framework to which various components, like solar arrays and radiators, are attached.
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Airlock:
- An airtight room with two entrances that allows an astronaut to go on a spacewalk without letting the air out of the spacecraft.
- The ISS is equipped with airlocks that astronauts use to venture outside the station for spacewalks without compromising the internal atmosphere.
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Microgravity:
- The condition of being weightless, or of the near absence of gravity.
- Living in microgravity is a unique aspect of space station life. It allows scientists to study the effects of weightlessness on the human body and conduct experiments that wouldn't be possible on Earth.
Now, let's address specific details from the article:
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Launch and Assembly:
- The ISS was assembled piece by piece, starting with the launch of the Russian Zarya control module in November 1998.
- The space shuttle Endeavour delivered the U.S. Unity node, which was attached to Zarya in orbit.
- Construction continued over the next two years, with the first crew arriving on November 2, 2000.
- Construction was completed in 2011, involving contributions from NASA and international partners.
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Size and Structure:
- The ISS has the volume of a five-bedroom house or two Boeing 747 jetliners.
- It can support a crew of six people, and its weight on Earth would be almost a million pounds.
- The space station includes laboratory modules from the United States, Russia, Japan, and Europe.
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Functionality:
- The ISS serves as a home for crews of astronauts and cosmonauts, functioning as a unique science laboratory.
- Laboratories on the ISS facilitate scientific research that benefits both space exploration and life on Earth.
- The station's solar arrays collect energy to provide electrical power, and robotic arms assist in construction and science experiments.
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Importance:
- The ISS enables an ongoing human presence in space, with people living in space every day since the arrival of the first crew.
- Scientific research on the ISS contributes to advancements on Earth, leading to products known as "spinoffs."
- Lessons learned from the ISS are crucial for future space exploration, including plans to explore other worlds.
In conclusion, the International Space Station stands as a testament to international collaboration and serves as a platform for invaluable scientific research, contributing to our understanding of space and preparing us for future explorations beyond Earth.
