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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people in spacesuits on the surface of mars surrounded by metal buildings

Spending time in space can harm the human body — but scientists are working to mitigate these risks before sending people to Mars

By Rachael Seidler published

With NASA planning more missions to space in the future, scientists are studying how to mitigate health hazards that come with space flight.

a hurricane seen from space, with a space station vehicle hanging in frame.

Astronauts on ISS gaze into the eye of Hurricane Nigel (photos)

By Samantha Mathewson published

Astronauts and satellites tracked Hurricane Nigel from space as the storm made its way across the Atlantic Ocean.

The mid-air still frame of opposite sides of a test space station module bursting with great force.

Bang! Inflatable space station module blows apart in explosive test (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published

Sierra Space's latest explosion with its LIFE module tested a metal plate inside an inflatable structure. The module will fly on a private successor to the International Space Station.

a man in a spacesuit is smiling

After 1 year in space, what's next for an astronaut? 'Peace and quiet' on Earth, Frank Rubio says (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published

Frank Rubio is the first American to spend a year in space, a milestone he will reach on Sept. 21.

a close up of a human in a spacesuit, smiling

NASA astronaut assigned to International Space Station mission with Russia, Belarus

By Elizabeth Howell published

U.S. astronaut Tracy Dyson will fly to the International Space Station for the third time in March 2024 alongside crew members from Russia and Belarus, NASA announced on Sept. 15.

A syringe is seen with a tiny bit of yellowish liquid inside.

New drug shows potential to aid astronauts during future missions to moon and Mars

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

A new drug appears to promote bone formation in mice exposed to microgravity onboard the ISS.

a spacecraft with solar arrays extended is seen against the blackness of space.

Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying 3 spaceflyers arrives at ISS (video)

By Mike Wall published

A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying two cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut arrived at the International Space Station today (Sept. 15), roughly three hours after lifting off.

A white and green Russian rocket launches into the night sky on Sept. 15, 2023

Russian rocket launches 3 spaceflyers for up to yearlong stay on ISS (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub have left Earth to spend a year aboard the International Space Station, flying on Russia's Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft with Loral O'Hara, who will return after six months.

an astronaut floating in spies smiles while handling laboratory equipment

'It's been an incredible challenge:' NASA astronaut tells all on setting new record for longest US spaceflight (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA astronaut Frank Rubio spoke from the International Space Station about how it felt to surpass the previous U.S. single mission spaceflight record of 355 days.

four men in black polos stare off to the right.

Axiom Space names Ax-3 astronaut crew for SpaceX mission to ISS

By Elizabeth Howell published

It's billed as the first European commercial astronaut mission.

People in hardhats are gathered along a railroad track with a car that carries a green/grey soyuz rocket laying on its side.

Russia rolls Soyuz rocket to the pad ahead of Sept. 15 astronaut launch to ISS (photos)

By Josh Dinner published

Photos captured the journey of Russia's Soyuz rocket to the launchpad ahead of the MS-24 launch of astronauts to the International Space Station.

a man floats in front on windows in space. The Earth is visible

UAE's 1st long-duration astronaut says a moon mission is within reach

By Elizabeth Howell published

Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi finished 6 months in space, and wants to go back.

A man in khakis crosses his arms as he floats in front of a hexagonal window that looks down at Earth from orbit.

NASA astronaut Frank Rubio surprised by his accidental record in space (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA astronaut Frank Rubio's International Space Station mission was supposed to finish in March, but a leaky spacecraft kept him aloft for a full year.. He spoke about his experience in a new video.

three astronauts - two men and a woman, stand in blue flight suits giving thumbs up

NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara ready for Soyuz launch to relieve delayed crew in space

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara will launch no earlier than Sept. 15.

a lander on the lunar surface

India, NASA to cooperate on human spaceflight and planetary defense

By Mike Wall published

NASA and its Indian counterpart are working to extend their cooperation in the final frontier, in the realms of human spaceflight and planetary defense.

an experiment bay on the exterior of the space station.

Kombucha on Mars? It could be key for astronauts' survival off Earth

By Rahul Rao published

Kombucha cultures riding on the ISS' exterior for 18 months proved resilient to the dangers of outer space.

The International Space Station has been continuously occupied by rotating astronaut crews since November 2000.

Hitchhiking microbes on ISS cargo ships can make astronauts sick. Scientists have a solution

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

A specific lubricant seems to be a promising solution to mitigate microbial biofilms onboard ISS.

a smiling man in a blue shirt floats aboard the space station with computers and wires in the background.

Astronaut Frank Rubio breaks US record on way to spending a year in space

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Frank Rubio didn't set out to break a record, but today on the International Space Station, he will do just that. Rubio, a NASA astronaut, will have flown the longest mission in U.S. history.

a dark thunderstorm lights up the night side of earth, as seen from the space station

Astronaut wields new space camera to see lightning strikes on Earth

By Elizabeth Howell published

It's a flashy follow-up to a 2015 lightning study.

an astronaut floating in spies smiles while handling laboratory equipment

Astronauts just 3D-printed knee cartilage in space for the 1st time and it's as weird as it sounds

By Elizabeth Howell published

The first-ever knee cartilage in microgravity was made on the International Space Station. Redwire Corp. says the meniscus will assist with treating military personnel and aging seniors on Earth.