6 Frequently Asked Questions About The International Space Station

The international space station is something everyone is very intrigued about. Read on to know the most asked questions about it.

You might be wondering why we're celebrating 20 years of people working and living onboard the International Space Station. Is there some benefit to having a human population in space? We may follow our ambitions to faraway stars, and live and work there for peaceful, commercial, and scientific gain," said former president Ronald Reagan. We can make great strides in areas including science, communications, metallurgy, and the development of potentially life-saving medications by constructing a space station. Read on for the rest of the most commonly asked questions addressed regarding this scientific and cooperative effort.

How Does The ISS Serve Humanity?

More than 3,600 scientists from 106 nations have used the Space Station (ISS) to perform more than 2,500 experiments, and this number continues to grow. International collaboration, as represented by the space station, has benefitted societies on Earth in many ways, including economics, technology, science, and education. Several "nodes" (modules) are linked together to form the ISS. A lengthy truss connects the solar panels to the station and regulates the temperature within. Robotic arms are also placed on the outside of the ISS. On average, the space station is 420 kilometers (227 miles) above the surface of the Earth as it makes its orbit.

How Big Is the ISS?

The length of the ISS, from end to end, is 357 feet (or 108 meters), which is somewhat larger than the size of an American sports field. The space station weighs in as close to 1,000,000 lbs. The International Space Station (ISS) is bigger than a typical U.S. six-bedroom home.

At what rate does the ISS move through space?

The ISS has a top speed of around 28,000 kilometers per hour or 17,500 miles per hour. At this rate, the International Space Station completes an orbit of the Earth per 90 minutes, providing the crew with a total of 16 sunrises and sunsets day after day. The space station has made hundreds of orbits around the Earth since humans first began living and working there.

How old is the ISS?

It has been 36 years since President Ronald Reagan ordered NASA to begin planning a permanently multinational crewed space station, the precursor of the International Space Station (ISS). The initial components of the ISS were launched into orbit more than twenty years ago, in 1998. In 2020, humans will have lived on the ISS continuously for 20 years.

Which nations manage The International Space Station?

Together, 15 nations' space agencies (representing 5 space agencies) provide for and manage the ISS. The United States, Russia, Canada, Japan, and the nations affiliated with the European Space Agency are all included in this group.

Who is on the ISS?

There will be six humans living on the ISS by the middle of 2020 October. Now, NASA pilots Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker, together with JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, are getting ready to blast out aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon.