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

The Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft is seen as it lands in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan with Expedition 69 NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, Roscosmos cosmonauts Dmitri Petelin and Sergey Prokopyev, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023.

Record-setting NASA astronaut lands with Russian crewmates after 1 year on space station

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The first American to spend a year in space and first Russians to do the same on the International Space Station have landed. Frank Rubio, Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin returned on Soyuz MS-23.

three men in black polo shirts float aboard the international space station.

Watch a NASA astronaut and 2 cosmonauts return to Earth after 1 year in space on Sept. 27

By Mike Wall published

NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and his two Russian crewmates are scheduled to return to Earth Wednesday morning (Sept. 27) after a year in space, and you can watch it live.

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.

three men in white space suits sit by yellow railings

Accidental 1-year astronaut crew hands over command of ISS ahead of Sept. 27 landing

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA's Frank Rubio and his one-year crew are ready to come home at last, after their return was delayed by six months. The Soyuz astronauts handed over their work on the ISS on Sept. 26.

a space station floats above earth, over an ocean or sea

NASA wants more 'space tug' ideas to deorbit the International Space Station in a fiery finale

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA is looking for spacecraft ideas to remove the U.S. segment of the International Space Station after its expected retirement in 2030.

SpaceX conducts a static fire test with its Ship 25 Starship prototype on June 26, 2023 at the company's Starbase site in South Texas.

Heating and cooling space habitats isn’t easy – one engineering team is developing a lighter, more efficient solution

By Issam Mudawar published

It’s hard to keep a spacecraft cool, but ongoing research on the International Space Station might yield a solution.

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.