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International Space Station

The International Space Station is a $100 billion research outpost in low-Earth orbit. It was built by 15 different countries and overseen by 5 space agencies, among them NASA, Russia's Roscosmos agency, the European Space Agency, the Canadian Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Construction began in 1998 and rotating astronaut crews have lived on the ISS continuously since 2000. Today, the ISS is the largest human-built structure in space. See the latest news, photos and videos from ISS missions here.

Related Topics: Falcon Heavy, Incredible Space Tech, NASA, SpaceX, Interstellar Travel

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A satellite of U.S. Earth-observation company planet has captured a Falcon 9 rocket booster shortly after its successful tenth landing.

Pictures from space! Our image of the day

By Space.com Staff published

Fiona Turett, NASA's 100th flight director, poses for a photo at her console in the Mission Control Center at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022.

Mosaic Flight: NASA's 100th flight director leads Mission Control

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

For over 60 years, dedicated teams in NASA's Mission Control have provided support for astronauts in space. Out of the thousands on staff during that time, less than 100 led the room, until now.

You can track the International Space Station from Earth. You just need to know where and when to look.

How to see and track the International Space Station (ISS)

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

Reference Find out how track the International Space Station from Earth and see where it is right now.

Uplift Aerospace's Constellation Vault will showcase fine art, jewelry and other goods for sale on the International Space Station.

NFT-backed vault on space station to showcase prized goods for sale

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The International Space Station is about to get its first sales showroom. Uplift Aerospace has announced the upcoming launch of its "Constellation Vault."

Astronaut snaps spectacular shot of crescent moon glowing over stunning sunset

By Harry Baker published

NASA's Earth Observatory has released a photo of a crescent moon above an orbital sunset taken by an astronaut on the International Space Station.

A powerful X-ray burst erupts from a magnetar — a supermagnetized version of a stellar remnant known as a neutron star — in this illustration.

'Cosmic monster' star spits energy with the force of a billion suns

By Mindy Weisberger published

Scientists just collected the first measurements of violent eruptions in extremely dense magnetic stars called magnetars.

An orbital sunrise is pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited 262 miles above Bolivia on the South American continent.

Astronauts ring in New Year aboard space station to welcome 2022

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station are marking the New Year, becoming only the 37th crew in history to be in space as Earth begins another revolution around the Sun.

The International Space Station as pictured from a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule during a November 2021 fly around. The White House has directed NASA to extend space station operations through 2030.

White House directs NASA to extend International Space Station operations through 2030

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

But the outpost's other partners have to sign on as well.

NASA astronaut Mark Vandei Hei demonstrates orbital acrobatics as his Expedition 65 crewmate Shane Kimbrough looks on during an educational downlink from the International Space Station.

Watch 9 awesome moments with NASA astronauts in space in 2021

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

In-flight education downlinks are chances for students to interact with astronauts on the International Space Station. Here are the nine most memorable downlink moments of 2021, as ranked by NASA.

A thin microbial film growing on basalt rocks in a biomining experiment.

Here's 7 things the International Space Station taught us in 2021

By Tereza Pultarova published

From stem cells to blue jets to 'made in space' concrete, this is the best of 2021 International Space Station research.

NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg will fly aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule launching to the International Space Station in 2023.

NASA assigns 2 astronauts to SpaceX Crew-6 mission, launching in 2023

By Meghan Bartels published

The first two seats of the sixth full-fledged NASA crew mission launched by SpaceX have been filled.

Axiom Space's first private crewed mission to the International Space Station is scheduled to launch on Feb. 28, 2022. From left to right: pilot Larry Connor, mission commander and retired NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría, mission specialist Mark Pathy and mission specialist Eytan Stibbe.

NASA clears Axiom crew for 1st private mission to International Space Station

By Samantha Mathewson published

The astronauts launching with the first private crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS) next year have cleared all their medical evaluations.

The Expedition 66 crew of the International Space Station sent a video message to Earth for Christmas 2021. From left to right: NASA astronauts Mark Vande Hei, Raja Chari and Kayla Barron, ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer and NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn.

Astronauts on International Space Station send Christmas video message to Earth

By Samantha Mathewson published

Astronauts on the International Space Station shared a festive message for people on Earth as they prepare to spend the holidays in orbit.

Artist's illustration of the space station that Houston-based company Axiom Space plans to build in Earth orbit.

Axiom Space developing in-house spacesuits to prepare for future stations

By Rahul Rao published

Even as commercial spaceflight company Axiom Space prepares to launch the first fully private crew to the space station early next year, its engineers are also developing in-house spacesuits.

A SpaceX Dragon cargo ship is seen approaching the International Space Station to deliver tons of supplies along with Christmas gifts and food for astronauts as part of NASA's CRS-24 cargo mission on Dec. 22, 2021.

SpaceX Dragon cargo ship delivers Christmas presents (and supplies) to space station

By Amy Thompson published

A SpaceX Dragon capsule arrived at the International Space Station early Wednesday (Dec. 22), carrying with it a holiday haul of science gear and Christmas treats.

Cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky shared this photo of the International Space Station on Twitter on Sept. 29, 2021. He and two colleagues were relocating a Russian Soyuz spacecraft from one port to another at the time.

International Space Station: Live updates

By Space.com Staff published

Find out what's going on at the International Space Station.

The Infinite, a VR experience offering interactive, immersive tours of the International Space Station, is now open in Houston, Texas, marking its premiere in the United States.

Houston, you are go for a spacewalk: 'The Infinite' launches VR space station tours

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

"You look down you see planet Earth, you look around, you see the gigantic space station and the astronauts — there's something vertiginous about it."

A new SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and a previously flown Cargo Dragon spacecraft stand atop Pad 39B of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of a planned Dec. 21, 2021 launch to the International Space Station.

SpaceX aces 100th rocket landing after Dragon cargo ship launch to space station

By Amy Thompson published

SpaceX launched a Dragon cargo ship for NASA early Tuesday (Dec. 21) and nailed its 100th rocket landing.

Official Roscosmos portrait of Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina

Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina will fly on SpaceX's Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station

By Amy Thompson published

NASA and the Russian space agency Roscosmos are finalizing an agreement to launch the first cosmonaut on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, agency officials confirmed on Monday (Dec. 20).

A new SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and a previously flown Cargo Dragon spacecraft stand atop Pad 39B of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of a planned Dec. 21, 2021 launch to the International Space Station.

You can watch SpaceX launch NASA supplies to space station early Tuesday

By Amy Thompson published

SpaceX will launch a Dragon spacecraft packed with NASA cargo to the International Space Station early Tuesday (Dec. 21) and you can watch it live.