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

Latest Updates

a module on the exterior of the international space station

This mysterious streak of light over California is actually an old space station antenna meeting its doom (video)

By Josh Dinner published

St. Patrick's Day revelers in Sacramento, California witnessed an old piece of the space station burn up in the atmosphere on March 17.

The core stage of NASA's Space Launch System rocket that will launch the Artemis II mission to the moon next year is coming together.

Pictures from space! Our image of the day

By Space.com Staff published

The 212-foot-tall core stage of NASA's Space Launch System rocket that will send the first human crew since the Apollo era to the moon next year has been put together.

janet kavandi holding a microphone next to sierra space dram chaser under construction. far in the background is a u.s. flag

Women's History Month: Retired NASA astronaut Janet Kavandi brings inclusion to Sierra Space missions

By Elizabeth Howell published

Spacewalks and radiation limits were limiting career opportunities for NASA women astronauts. Janet Kavandi pushed back those barriers but says more work is needed.

illustration of an episode of 'Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur.' lunella sits on her bed and puts her hands on her head and grimaces. a floating phone next to her says '#girlswhocode.'

Exclusive: NASA astronaut Mae Jemison stars in Disney+ episode of 'Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur'

By Elizabeth Howell published

Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space, voices a fictional app in a new episode of 'Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur' that runs March 18, during Women's History Month.

a microscopic image showing orange blobs sticking to a green tree-like object

SpaceX delivers new science experiments to ISS to explore origins of life on Earth

By Josh Dinner published

SpaceX delivered a fresh round of science payloads to the International Space Station that will explore topics such as how to minimize microbial contamination inside spacecraft.

SpaceX CRS-27 Cargo Dragon spacecraft arrives at the International Space Station after a smooth ride.

SpaceX Dragon cargo ship arrives at space station with NASA supplies

By Mike Wall published

A SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule carrying nearly 6,300 pounds of supplies arrived at the International Space Station Thursday morning (March 16).

nicole mann smiling in a spacesuit with helmet open. she is sitting in a plush seat inside a white spacecraft and a bank of screens is just available on the right-hand side

1st Native American woman astronaut wants the world to 'share in that joy' after SpaceX Crew-5 flight

By Elizabeth Howell published

Shortly after coming home from the International Space Station, NASA's Nicole Mann talked about how she is trying to bring others into the field by sharing her journey.

SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavour with the Ax-1 crew docks to the International Space Station on April 9, 2022.

Axiom Space targeting November 2023 for 3rd private astronaut mission to space station

By Mike Wall published

Axiom Space is targeting November 2023 for the launch of its Ax-3 mission, which will send four private astronauts to the International Space Station for a two-week stay.

the international space station as photographed while looking down at Earth

International Space Station fires thrusters to dodge space junk

By Brett Tingley published

The International Space Station (ISS) had to perform a debris avoidance maneuver to dodge yet another piece of space junk on Tuesday (March 14).

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 Elizabeth Howell published

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

A Falcon 9 rocket launches SpaceX's 27th contracted cargo mission to the International Space Station from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on March 14, 2023.

SpaceX launches fresh Dragon cargo ship to space station, lands rocket at sea

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX launched its 27th contracted cargo mission to the International Space Station for NASA on Tuesday (March 14), sending more than 6,000 pounds of supplies to the orbiting lab.

The International Space Station photographed by Expedition 56 crew members from a Soyuz spacecraft after undocking, Oct. 4, 2018.

NASA wants new 'deorbit tug' to bring space station down in 2030

By Mike Wall published

NASA plans to develop a deorbit tug that will be ready to bring the International Space Station down in 2030.

hand with watch points at a divot in a window in space. behind is hardware from the international space station. above is the horizon of earth

How often does the International Space Station have to dodge space debris?

By Elizabeth Howell published

Astronauts have to deal with growing amounts of space junk in orbit, but there are procedures on the International Space Station in case of trouble.

A camera on the International Space Station shows a coolant leak on the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft on Dec. 14, 2022.

Russia looking into possibility of manufacturing defect on leaky spacecraft

By Mike Wall published

Russia is investigating the possibility that a manufacturing defect caused two of its spacecraft to spring coolant leaks in a two-month span recently.

The SpaceX Crew-5 members are expected to splash down soon. Clockwise from left are Expedition 68 Flight Engineers Anna Kikina of Roscosmos, Josh Cassada and Nicole Mann from NASA, and Koichi Wakata of JAXA (the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.)

SpaceX Crew-5 and Crew-6 astronaut mission: Live updates

By Elizabeth Howell published

Read the latest news about SpaceX's Crew-5 and Crew-6 missions to the International Space Station for NASA.

The SpaceX Crew-5 Dragon Endurance capsule descends to Earth under parachutes as it splashes down in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Tampa Bay, Florida on March 11, 2023, returning four astronauts to Earth after 5 months.

SpaceX Dragon capsule splashes down with Crew-5 astronauts after 157 days in space

By Josh Dinner published

SpaceX's Crew-5 astronauts have returned to Earth. The four astronauts on the Dragon capsule Endurance splashed down March 11 to end a 157-day trip to the International Space Station.

Crew Dragon Endurance seen departing the International Space Station after a five-month Crew-5 mission on March 11, 2023.

Watch SpaceX's Crew-5 astronauts return to Earth from space station in this webcast

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX's Crew-5 astronaut mission for NASA departed the International Space Station on Saturday March 11 after more than five months in space.

A robotic SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule leaves the International Space Station on Jan. 9, 2023.

NASA, SpaceX eyeing March 14 for resupply launch to space station

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX will launch its 27th contracted cargo mission to the International Space Station for NASA on March 14, if all goes according to plan.

"Space Explorers: The ISS Experience"

'Women in Spaceflight' VR experience launches to celebrate female astronauts

By Elizabeth Howell published

The experience, released Wednesday (March 8), is based upon the Emmy-awarding winning 'Space Explorers' that aired in 2020.

astronaut holds a spacesuit and poses next to it in the international space station. books and hardware are attached to the walls behind, including a model space shuttle

International Women's Day: Female astronauts keep making strides off Earth

By Elizabeth Howell published

The past year saw the first long-duration flight by a woman Black astronaut along with the first spaceflight by a female Native American, among other milestones.