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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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In this new image from the Hubble Space Telescope, what looks like a top-down view of a jellyfish glowing in deep space is actually the planetary nebula NGC 2022. The cosmic orb of ionized gas was expelled from a dying red giant star located at its center. As the star sheds material into space, its core shrinks and grows hotter while emitting ultraviolet radiation that illuminates its gassy shell.

Pictures from Space! Our Image of the Day

By Hanneke Weitering

In this new image from the Hubble Space Telescope, what looks like a top-down view of a jellyfish glowing in deep space is actually the planetary nebula NGC 2022.

NASA astronaut Christina Koch monitors a space-station experiment called Capillary Structures.

NASA to Seek Review of International Space Station As National Laboratory

By Meghan Bartels

NASA has ordered a review of the nonprofit organization that oversees the U.S. laboratory on the International Space Station to evaluate its commercial strengths and weaknesses.

An artist's impression of the Dream Chaser space plane in orbit.

Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser Space Plane Could Launch Astronauts One Day

By Nola Taylor Redd

The Dream Chaser space plane continues to eye future crewed trips to the International Space Station, despite the plane's cargo focus.

A schematic of the Vulcan Centaur rocket with the Dream Chaser spacecraft.

Private Dream Chaser Space Plane Will Ride New Vulcan Rocket for NASA Cargo Launches

By Hanneke Weitering

The private Dream Chaser space plane has a new ride to the International Space Station.

The CRS-11 Cygnus spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station today (Aug. 6, 2019).

Cygnus Spacecraft Departs Space Station, Begins New Mission in Orbit

By Chelsea Gohd

Today (Aug. 6), the Cygnus CRS-11 cargo spacecraft undocked from the space station to begin a secondary mission.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine discussed his desire to support industrialization of low Earth orbit in a July 31 speech at the ISS Research and Development Conference in Atlanta.

NASA Seeks 'Industrialization' of Low Earth Orbit with ISS Commercialization Strategy

By Jeff Foust

Jim Bridenstine says he believes the agency's new strategy for increasing commercial use of the International Space Station will lead to an "industrialization" of low Earth orbit.

Canadian Space Agency astronaut David Saint-Jacques monitors Bumble during its first flight aboard the International Space Station.

Tiny Robot 'Bumbles' Through the Air Aboard Space Station

By Chelsea Gohd

In June, Bumble the Astrobee took its first flight in microgravity aboard the International Space Station.

The moon's north pole as seen by NASA's Galileo spacecraft in 1998. This image is a mosaic of multiple images taken by Galileo.

Top Space Stories of the Week!

By Doris Elin Salazar

These are the top space stories this week from Space.com.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine speaks at the International Space Station Research and Development Conference in Atlanta on July 31, 2019.

NASA Chief Says Moon 2024 Plans Won't Rob Funds from Space Station

By Nola Taylor Redd

The U.S. has declared its intention to once again put boots on the moon. That sort of exploration comes with a giant price tag, leaving some to wonder where the money will come from.

A microbe called Sphingomonas desiccabilis growing on basalt rock.

Scientists Are Recruiting Bacteria to Mine Rock — in Space

By Meghan Bartels

A new space station experiment is testing whether would-be space miners can enlist some very small potential accomplices to do their grunt work.

The Progress 73 vehicle blasted off to the International Space Station on July 31, 2019.

Russia Launches Progress 73 Cargo Ship on Speedy Flight to Space Station

By Tariq Malik

The Russian-built Progress 73 cargo ship launched to the International Space Station Wednesday (July 31) on a 4-hour trek to the orbiting laboratory.

The uncrewed Russian cargo ship Progress 72 burns up and breaks part in Earth's atmosphere in this photo taken July 29, 2019 by NASA astronaut Nick Hague on the International Space Station.

A Russian Space Cargo Ship Just Fell to Earth. See Its Fiery Demise!

By Tariq Malik

The Russian-built Progress cargo ship went down in flames (on purpose) on Monday (July 29) and a space station astronaut made sure to capture its fiery doom on camera.

A previously flown Dragon cargo ship arrives at the International Space Station carrying 5,000 lbs. of supplies on the CRS-18 mission for NASA on July 27, 2019.

Used SpaceX Dragon Cargo Ship Arrives at Space Station for Record 3rd Time

By Mike Wall

SpaceX's robotic Dragon cargo capsule has arrived at the International Space Station, ending a two-day orbital chase.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches a robotic Dragon cargo capsule toward the International Space Station on July 25, 2019. The launch was the second for the rocket's first stage, and the third for this Dragon capsule.

SpaceX Launches Used Dragon Capsule on Historic 3rd Cargo Run to Space Station

By Amy Thompson

The robotic spacecraft is hauling about 5,000 lbs. (2,270 kilograms) of supplies to the orbiting lab.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon cargo capsule stand poised to launch toward the International Space Station on July 24, 2019. The launch attempt was nixed because of bad weather.

Bad Weather Delays SpaceX Cargo Mission to Space Station

By Amy Thompson

SpaceX’s next cargo mission to the International Space Station has been delayed by at least 24 hours due to poor weather conditions.

Nickelodeon slime is packaged in food-grade pouches for shipment to the International Space Station.

It's 'Slime Time'! Nickelodeon's Green Slime Is Launching Into Space

By Hanneke Weitering

It's "slime time" at the International Space Station.

Soyuz MS-13 launches for the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, July 20, 2019, 50 years to the day after the Apollo 11 first moon landing in 1969.

Soyuz MS-13 Crew Lifts Off to Space Station on First Moon Landing 50th

By Robert Z. Pearlman

Three spaceflyers just took to the skies, 50 years to the day after Apollo 11 touched down on the moon.

A Soyuz rocket that will launch three people to the International Space Station on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing tomorrow (July 20) stands tall on the launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Astronauts Will Launch to Space Station 50 Years After Apollo 11 Moon Landing: Watch Live!

By Hanneke Weitering

Three new crewmembers will launch to the International Space Station today (July 20) on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

The International Space Station crew of Expedition 61/62, from left to right: UAE astronaut Hazza Al Monsouri, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, and NASA astronaut Jessica Meir.

Astronauts Will Fix Ailing Dark Matter Experiment on Space Station

By Elizabeth Howell

The secrets of the universe are so important that NASA plans spacewalk work to fix a dark matter experiment on the space station, said U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir.

NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins on a spacewalk in 2013.

Space Radiation Doesn't Seem to Be Causing Astronauts to Die from Cancer, Study Finds

By Rachael Rettner

That may be true for the short missions astronauts have gone on so far. But Mars will be a different story.