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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China's Shenzhou 15 and Shenzhou 16 crews join together aboard the country's Tiangong space station on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. The six taikonauts include Fei Junlong, Deng Qingming Zhang Lu, Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao.

New record! 17 people are in Earth orbit right now

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The total number of people in Earth orbit is now at a record high, though only for a short time. With Monday's (May 29) launch of China's Shenzhou 16 mission, the population in orbit grew to 17.

11 astronauts packed together on the international space station

Watch private Ax-2 astronauts head back to Earth in SpaceX Dragon today

By Mike Wall last updated

The four astronauts of the private Ax-2 mission are scheduled to head home to Earth today (May 30), and you can watch the action live.

Axiom Space Ax-2 astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi on the left and Ax-2 commander Peggy Whitson smile for a photo surrounded by science gear on International Space Station.

Saudi Arabia has ambitious plans for space. Its astronauts on SpaceX's private Ax-2 mission are just the start, official says

By Mike Wall published

Mishaal Ashemimry, special adviser to the CEO of the Saudi Space Commission, discusses the significance of the Ax-2 mission and the nation's ambitious space plans.

The Axiom Space Ax-2 private astronaut crew smiles in their Dragon capsule

Axiom Space Ax-2 private spaceflight with SpaceX: Live updates

By Brett Tingley last updated

Follow along with Axiom Space's Ax-2 mission to the International Space Station, the second-ever all-private mission to the orbital lab.

11 astronauts packed together on the international space station

Private Ax-2 astronauts get warm welcome from space station crew (video)

By Josh Dinner published

The crew of Axiom Space's second private mission to the International Space Station arrived at the orbiting lab on Monday (May 22) to a warm welcome from the station's current crew.

Russia's Progress 82 spacecraft with two rectangular solar wings deployed in the black of space.

Russian cargo ship Progress 84 docks at space station just hours after launch (video)

By Mike Wall last updated

A robotic Russian cargo craft arrived at the International Space Station today (May 24) after a speedy launch to deliver more than 2 tons of fresh supplies for astronaut.

Mattel's Matchbox SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft comes packaged in a display-ready box that suspends the die-cast capsule against a backdrop of the blue Earth and blackness of space.

SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule is now a Matchbox die-cast model

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft is landing — on toy store shelves. Matchbox, the classic die-cast toy brand, has released a miniature model of the commercial space capsule.

astronauts floating inside a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule

'It feels amazing!' Private Ax-2 astronauts thrilled by zero gravity and Earth views after SpaceX launch (video)

By Robert Lea published

The Ax-2 crew, including three first-time astronauts and the first Saudi woman to reach space, shared their reactions after reaching space on their way to the International Space Station.

A white and black SpaceX Dragon Ax-2 capsule docked the space station with blue Earth behind.

SpaceX Dragon capsule docks at space station with private Ax-2 astronaut crew (video)

By Josh Dinner last updated

A SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying four private astronauts arrived at the International Space Station early Monday (May 22) after a record-setting trip to the orbiting laboratory

SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft "Freedom" begins its journey to the International Space Station with the 600th person to enter Earth orbit after launching from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, May, 21, 2023.

SpaceX launch of private Ax-2 astronauts just put the 600th person in orbit

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The 600th person to enter Earth orbit, Rayyanah Barnawi of Saudi Arabia, is now on her way to the International Space Station on Axiom-2, the second commercial mission to fly there.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the Ax-2 mission from Florida on May 21, 2023.

SpaceX launches Ax-2 private astronaut mission to station, 1st Saudi woman in space on board (video)

By Josh Dinner published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida today (May 21), kicking off the pioneering private Ax-2 mission to the space station.

The Axiom Space Bear, a larger version of the Ax-2 zero-g indicator "GiGi," features Build-A-Bear's "Happy Hugs Teddy" wearing Axiom Space's AxEMU spacesuit.

Build-A-Bear creates fluffy 'zero-g indicator' for Axiom Space Ax-2 crew

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The zero-g indicator flying on the second private mission to the International Space Station may be the first that needed assembly. Ax-2's 'GiGi' is the first Build-A-Bear to launch into orbit.

a white rocket on a launch pad under a blue sky

What time is the SpaceX Ax-2 private astronaut launch for Axiom Space?

By Tariq Malik last updated

SpaceX is launching the second all-private mission to the International Space Station today (May 21) and if you're hoping to follow it online, you need to know when it actually lifts off.

Fisher Space Pen has produced four new model pens under a new partnership with Axiom Space, including a version of its original Astronaut pen finished in black titanium nitride.

Axiom crews to use custom Fisher space pens on private missions

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

When former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson launches on her first commercial mission, she will have a familiar tool along with her. Whitson will be among the first to use Axiom Space Fisher space pens.

the sun rising behind Axiom Space's SpaceX Dragon capsule

SpaceX rocket 'go' to launch four private astronauts on Ax-2, a mission filled with 1sts, today

By Brett Tingley last updated

Axiom Space is ready to launch its second-ever private mission to the International Space Station.

The Axiom Space Ax-2 private astronaut crew smiles in their Dragon capsule

Watch SpaceX's Ax-2 private astronaut mission dock at ISS in this free livestream on May 22

By Tariq Malik published

SpaceX's next private spaceflight will launch four astronauts to the International Space Station on Sunday (May 21) and you can watch the mission live online in a series of free webcasts.

The Ax-2 crew in the launch access arm at the NASA Kennedy Space Center, at the launch pad. From left: mission specialist Ali Alqarni, commander Peggy Whitson, pilot John Shoffner and mission specialist Rayyanah Barnawi.

Excitement builds for Ax-2 SpaceX launch that will send 1st Saudi woman to space

By Robert Lea published

The Ax-2 mission is set to lift off on Sunday (May 21) atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, sending the first private mission commanded by a woman, and the first female Saudi astronaut, to space.

Ax-2

Saudi Arabia's 1st female astronaut hopes kids follow in her footsteps

By Mike Wall published

Rayyanah Barnawi, who will become the first Saudi woman in space when the private Ax-2 mission launches on Sunday (May 21), hopes she's blazing a trail for others to follow.

Ax-2 astronauts with their linked hands raised as they walkout in spacesuits

SpaceX's Ax-2 mission for Axiom Space in photos (gallery)

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

A new crew of four people is bound for orbit on the Ax-2 mission, which will fly to the International Space Station using SpaceX hardware. See photos of the Ax-2 mission here.

SpaceX rolled its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule out to the launch pad at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on May 18, 2023, ahead of the planned May 22 launch of the Ax-2 private astronaut mission.

SpaceX rolls rocket to pad for Sunday's Ax-2 private astronaut launch (photos)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX rolled its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule out to the launch pad on Thursday (May 18) ahead of Sunday's (May 21) planned Ax-2 private astronaut launch.