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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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British astrophotographer Martin Lewis captured the Russian Nauka module in orbit a few hours after its launch using his home-built telescope.

Pictures from space! Our image of the day

By Space.com Staff

Astrophotographer captures Russia's Nauka module in orbit just as ground control teams scramble to fix a failure in its propulsion system.

Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft was secured atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at the Vertical Integration Facility at Space Launch Complex-41 at Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on July 17, 2021.

Boeing's Starliner capsule is 'go' for July 30 test launch for NASA

By Mike Wall

Boeing's Starliner astronaut taxi has cleared a big hurdle on the road to its July 30 launch to the International Space Station.

The Russian Pirs module, seen here, has been attached to the International Space Station since 2001 and is scheduled to be de-orbited on July 24, 2021.

Russia delays detaching old space station docking port while testing new research module in orbit

By Mike Wall

The departure of Russia's Pirs module from the International Space Station has been delayed until Saturday (July 24) as engineers continue to conduct in-flight tests on its replacement.

The Proton M rocket with the Russian Nauka module aboard blasting off Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Russia launches huge Nauka science module to space station after years of delays

By Tereza Pultarova

Russia has launched its decades delayed Nauka module to the International Space Station, which will represent the largest addition to Russia’s segment of the orbital outpost in years.

The Crew 2 astronauts aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavour moved the spacecraft to a different docking port at the International Space Station on July 21, 2021 to make room for a new commercial space taxi, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which launches July 30.

Astronauts move their SpaceX Dragon spaceship in orbit ahead of Boeing's Starliner launch

By Samantha Mathewson

NASA's SpaceX Crew-2 astronauts on the International Space Station relocated the Crew Dragon spacecraft Endeavour ahead of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft arrival next weekend.

A Russian Proton M rocket carrying the new Nauka multipurpose research module for the International Space Station stands atop its pad at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan ahead of a July 21, 2021 launch.

Russia will launch a new science lab to the International Space Station Wednesday. Here's how to watch.

By Alexander Cox

Russia is launching its Nauka science module, which includes a new European robotic arm, to the International Space Station on Wednesday (July 21).

Virgin Group founder Richard Branson (left) and his fellow crewmates in the cabin of VSS Unity during its fourth spaceflight, on July 11, 2021.

The top space stories of the week!

By Doris Elin Urrutia

These are the top space stories this week from Space.com.

NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough inserts a device called a science carrier into the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH), which contains 48 Hatch chile pepper seeds NASA started growing on July 12, 2021 as part of the Plant Habitat-04 experiment.

Astronauts are growing chile peppers in space in spicy first

By Elizabeth Howell

Chile peppers are growing on the International Space Station as part of a new experiment that aims to expand the range of space-grown foods ahead of a possible future mission to Mars.

French astronaut Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency celebrated France's Bastille Day holiday in space with festive shirts and a meal with friends on July 14, 2021 aboard the International Space Station.

Here's how a French astronaut celebrated Bastille Day 2021 in space

By Tariq Malik

French astronaut Thomas Pesquet pulled out all the stops in orbit for a Bastille Day on the International Space Station.

expedition 65 spacewalks

What does it take to do a spacewalk? Skill, courage, and being able to wear a men’s size medium.

By Steven Moore

Surprisingly, one of the main criteria (besides the years of astronaut training) is body size.

Russia's new Nauka module undergoes testing at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Russia's new Nauka module readied for launch to International Space Station

By Leonard David

Russia's Nauka laboratory module is now slated to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) on July 21.

NASA's space shuttle Atlantis launches on July 8, 2011, kicking off STS-135, the final mission of the shuttle program.

The last voyage of NASA's space shuttle: Looking back at Atlantis' final mission 10 years later

By Elizabeth Howell

The final space shuttle mission, which launched 10 years ago this week, almost didn't happen.

Former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría is returning to space with Axiom Space's mission Ax-1.

Former NASA astronaut's return to space on private Axiom flight will be 'a dream come true' (exclusive)

By Chelsea Gohd

Almost a decade after retiring from NASA, Michael López-Alegría is once again strapping in to launch to the final frontier.

The CRS-22 Dragon cargo ship approaching the International Space Station on June 5, 2021.

SpaceX Dragon cargo ship departs space station after stormy delays

By Elizabeth Howell

After a 48-hour delay as a tropical storm traveled up the coast, a cargo Dragon capsule bid farewell to the International Space Station on Thursday (July 8).

SpaceX's Dragon cargo ship pictured approaching the International Space Station.

Tropical Storm Elsa delays SpaceX Dragon cargo ship's return to Earth

By Tereza Pultarova

NASA and SpaceX have delayed the departure of the SpaceX CRS-22 Dragon cargo ship from the International Space Station as Tropical Storm Elsa approaches Florida.

The European Robotic Arm will service the Russian segment of the International Space Station.

Europe will launch a new two-handed robotic arm to the International Space Station soon

By Tereza Pultarova

A new robotic arm built by the European Space Agency will fly to the International Space Station to service its Russian segment.

NASA astronauts Meghan McArthur (left), Shane Kimbrough (top center), Mark Vande Hei (bottom) and French astronaut Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency review spacewalk preparations on June 10, 2021. The three Americans won't have a long weekend for Fourth of July 2021.

No long weekend this Fourth of July holiday for American astronauts in space

By Hanneke Weitering

While many Americans will celebrate the Fourth of July with a day off from work, astronauts at the International Space Station are spending their holiday preparing a cargo ship's return to Earth.

NASA astronaut Christina Koch holds the agency's current record for the single longest spaceflight by a woman.

NASA wants to change the way it protects astronauts from radiation

By Rahul Rao

Radiation exposure limits on how long astronauts can stay up in orbit. But that cap isn't equal for all astronauts, and experts are now backing NASA's effort to change it.

An uncrewed Russian Progress freighter approaches the International Space Station on July 1, 2021.

Russian Progress cargo ship docks at space station after two-day journey

By Robert Z. Pearlman

An uncrewed Russian cargo spacecraft has arrived at the International Space Station after a two-day journey to deliver food, fuel and supplies for the orbiting outpost’s crew.

Russia's Progress 76 cargo resupply ship is pictured shortly after it departed the International Space Station on Feb. 9, 2021.

Russia says SpaceX Starlink satellite and space junk may narrowly miss Progress cargo ship in orbit

By Tereza Pultarova

The Russian Progress MS-17 cargo ship, which launched toward the International Space Station on Tuesday (June 29), will come dangerously close to a Starlink satellite and a Falcon 9 rocket fragment.