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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four images of betelgeuse dimming at top, with a light curve below

Pictures from space! Our image of the day

By Space.com Staff published

The red giant Betelgeuse is coming back after a strange dimming episode.

A multispectral satellite images of an artillery battalion actively firing in a southeasterly direction on March 11, 2022 as seen by the WorldView-2 satellite for Maxar Technologies.

Ukraine invasion's impacts on space exploration: Live updates

By Space.com Staff published

The Russia-Ukraine war has already stretched into space, with satellites providing internet and intel and longstanding international relations in outer space shifting rapidly.

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 Space.com Staff published

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

A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus NG-16 cargo ship.

Northrop Grumman picks Firefly to replace Russian engines on Antares rocket

By Tariq Malik published

Northrop Grumman's Antares rocket is about to get an all-American upgrade with the help of Firefly Aerospace.

President Joe Biden signs the CHIPS Act into law on Aug. 9, 2022.

President Biden signs CHIPS Act, approving International Space Station extension to 2030

By Mike Wall published

Today (Aug. 9), President Joe Biden signed into law the CHIPS Act, which includes a NASA authorization bill — the first one to pass Congress in five years.

Artist's rendering of concept design for Axiom Station berthed at the Harmony module of the International Space Station.

NASA, private companies count on market demand for future space stations after ISS

By Josh Dinner published

Senior officials from companies selected by NASA to develop new low Earth orbit space stations are eager for market input to drive their purpose.

SpaceX's Starship SN24 rocket test-fires two Raptor engines at sunset in Boca Chica, Texas on Aug. 9, 2022.

Space photos: The most amazing images this week!

By Elizabeth Howell published

See the best photos on Space.com this week.

A small asteroid missed Earth by just a few thousand miles on March 25, 2022.

The top space stories of the week!

By Elizabeth Howell published

Astronomers go fishing for an interstellar magnet, SpaceX faces down space debris 'squalls', and North Korea's ICBM intentions are unclear.

NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins

A NASA astronaut in space just published a science paper on Mars rocks

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins, who is currently in orbit, is lead author on a scientific paper. The topic is the Curiosity mission that reaches its 10th anniversary on Mars Aug. 5.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the Crew-4 astronaut mission for NASA on the new Crew Dragon capsule Freedom from Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida before dawn on April 27, 2022.

SpaceX addressing Falcon 9 rocket damage ahead of next NASA astronaut launch

By Elizabeth Howell published

SpaceX is making some changes following transport damage to a Falcon 9 rocket, with Crew-5 commander Nicole Mann telling reporters she's confident the system will fly safely.

SpaceX's Ax-1 private astronauts make a number one gesture for their flight after joining the Expedition 67 crew on the International Space Station and getting their astronaut wings on April 9, 2022.

Former astronauts must chaperone private missions to the International Space Station, NASA says

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA issued a notice changing the rules on privately run crewed missions to the ISS after the experience of Ax-1, which saw its private astronauts ask the ISS crew for help.

Artist's illustration of the space station that Houston-based company Axiom Space plans to build in Earth orbit.

Axiom Space deal will put New Zealand research on the International Space Station

By Elizabeth Howell published

New Zealand partners with private space exploration firm Axiom Space as it plans to run more science experiments on the International Space Station.

Russia controls six modules on the International Space Station, which has been hosting astronaut crews continuously since 2000.

New Russian space chief clarifies comments about International Space Station departure

By Josh Dinner published

Russia won't rush its exit from the International Space Station, but the nation is planning ahead for when that day arrives.

The international space station can be seen in the foreground with the blue and white of Earth behind it.

NASA looks to private outposts to build on International Space Station's legacy

By Josh Dinner published

The ISS can't fly forever, and NASA officials envision a diverse market of commercial space stations taking its place as demand for access to low Earth orbit continues to increase.

Russia controls six modules aboard the International Space Station.

Russia's withdrawal from the International Space Station could mean the early demise of the orbital lab — and sever another link with the West

By Wendy Whitman Cobb published

Russia's announcement, while not a breach of any agreement or an immediate threat to the station's daily operation, does mark the culmination of months of political tensions involving the ISS.

samantha cristoforetti spacewalk

In photos: Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti takes Europe's historic 1st female spacewalk

By Elizabeth Howell published

Samantha Cristoforetti posted numerous photos of her historic International Space Station spacewalk July 21, when she became the first European female spacewalker.

European space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti floats in weightlessness dressed as actor Katee Sackhoff's Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica on the International Space Station in July 2022.

Astronaut's Battlestar Galactica Starbuck cosplay in space thrills sci-fi convention fans (video)

By Scott Dutfield published

Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti has once again brought cosplay to space dressed as Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica.

European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti takes in the scent of edible plants growing in the eXposed Root On-Orbit Test System (XROOTS) experiment on the International Space Station.

International Space Station has 'peculiar odor,' astronaut says

By Elizabeth Howell published

A TikTok video from European astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti dished about the smells of the International Space Station, particularly the toilet and trash.

The international space station can be seen in the foreground with the blue and white of Earth behind it.

Congress approves International Space Station extension to 2030

By Elizabeth Howell published

Congress wants the International Space Station to keep going through the end of the decade.

russian orbital space station

Russia wants to build its own space station, as early as 2028

By Elizabeth Howell published

Russia released images and information about its planned space station, which could be ready to house crews in six years amid a multi-year construction period.