Spaceships:The International Space Station

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	The International Space Station

What is the International Space Station?

The international space station is a program for 13 nations to cooperate in order to create a space station to research space-related technologies and zero gravity biology. Its main objective is to research how people can live in space for long periods of time. This research is critical, for it is needed in order to make the long trips necessary to complete the journey to Mars. It is also needed information for mankind's eventual colonization of space. Although this is its main goal, its crew will also be conducting other science projects while they are on board. These projects will include:

developing new materials
advancing Earth-based research
plant and animal development in zero gravity
biotechnology.

Mission	To see how people can live and work efficiently and safely in space
Orbit Altitude	248 miles	Total Cost	$100 billion
Construction start date:	November 1997	Expected finish date:	June 2002
Expected life span	10 years	Contributors	U.S., Russia, Canada, Japan, and Europe
Size	361x290 feet	Weight	462 tons
Sections	Russian Propulsion, Service & Research Modules, Canadian Robotic Arm, Japanese Experimental Module, American Laboratory and Habitation Modules, and the European Space Agency Module

(All dollar amounts are in millions)

Why should it be built?

Despite the Station's titanic cost, $100 billion (The cost will be greatly reduced, because it is shared by several nations), the International Space Station is an important stepping stone for humankind's exploration of space. Besides being a permanent station in space, it will perform science experiments that may provide valuable information and new technologies. While performing these experiments, the 6 crew members will also be a science experiment that will also provide important scientific data on how to keep humans healthy and strong for long periods, possibly permanently, in a microgravity environment. There are several reasons to build the station. Some include:

It will be an important stepping stone for the exploration of space
It will help build international friendship and trust between many nations, especially between America and Russia.
It will help show how humans can live and work safely and efficiently in space for long periods of time.
It will build Earth's experience with building and maintaining space stations
It will allow its crew to perform experiments and do research on:
- developing new materials (Nearly perfect microfilms of semiconductors can be made in space)
- advancing Earth-based research (Many experiments and processes can be performed only in space or zero gravity)
- plant and animal development in zero gravity (Also related to studying how humans can live in space)
- biotechnology (protein crystals can be grown at a much better quality in a microgravity environment)

How will we build the International Space Station?

Much of the station is already built and is ready to take into orbit. In November 1997, the Russian built-American owned Functional Cargo Block will be put into orbit. This will include the propulsion module, the command and control systems, and some living space. In December, the first US built section will be launched and added. In the middle of 1998, the International Space Station will be partially functional, capable of supporting 3 crew members in for the first stays in the station. At the end of 1998, a U.S. laboratory module and equipment will be added, making it capable of performing science experiments. The last assembly missions will be flown to the International Space Station in the year 2002. At that time, the station will be completed, and it will be expected to last for 10 years, until 2012.

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