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

Boeing's CST-100 Starliner Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission patch includes elements personal to both crew members, NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams.

Crew set to fly on Boeing Starliner add final touches to mission patch

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Boeing has finalized the design of its first crew mission patch. The aerospace company is preparing for the Crew Flight Test of its CST-100 Starliner commercial spacecraft.

uncrewed SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft is the first Commercial Crew vehicle to visit the International Space Station. Here it is pictured with its nose cone open revealing its docking mechanism while approaching the station's Harmony module.

NASA asks SpaceX about International Space Station rescue options

By Brett Tingley published

NASA has inquired about using a SpaceX Dragon capsule to bring astronauts home from the International Space Station (ISS) following a recent leak aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule.

four astronauts in front of space station windows wearing santa hats or holiday clothing

On International Space Station, astronauts ring in New Year 2023 ahead of 2nd Christmas

By Elizabeth Howell published

The Expedition 68 crew rang in 2023 with holiday cheer, including Santa hats, stockings and ornaments in the United States and Russian segments.

A multicolored methane plume signal superimposed over Tehran, Iran.

NASA sensors could help detect landfill methane from space to help limit climate change

By Robert Lea published

Data from the NASA mission EMIT will help the new initiative Carbon Mapper track the greenhouse gas methane from waste sites.

An interior view of the Destiny U.S. Laboratory at night under ambient light with the main lights turned off.

See the best photos from the International Space Station of 2022 in this NASA video

By Robert Lea published

NASA has released a stunning series of images that celebrate 2022 aboard the International Space Station.

Crew Dragon with its docking mechanism open, with the Earth in behind

NASA ponders SpaceX astronaut rescue as backup after Soyuz leak: report

By Elizabeth Howell published

Three crew members that may be stuck on the International Space Station could have the chance to return home on a SpaceX Dragon, if the option is required, a report suggests.

An short video clip of a Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft leaking coolant at the International Space Station on Dec. 14, 2022.

Russia's 'final decision' on leaky Soyuz spacecraft at space station to come in January: reports

By Elizabeth Howell published

The Soyuz is docked to the International Space Station and it's unclear if it can bear its crew back home, following a severe coolant leak earlier in December.

dmitry rogozin, wearing a coat, pointing to a wall poster of a rocket inside of a launch tower

Former Russian space agency chief injured in Ukraine shelling, completes surgery: report

By Elizabeth Howell published

Former Roscosmos director-general Dmitry Rogozin is 'on the mend' after being flown from Ukraine to Russia for the 'complex operation, state media reported Monday (Dec. 26).

the curve of the earth and black of space is visible in this high altitude balloon photo, along with a piece of hardware flying above distant fields

Wild space 'ferry' concept uses paragliders to return satellites and science to Earth

By Elizabeth Howell published

Outpost recently tested a stratospheric paraglider to return space tech ahead of orbital ventures for NASA and other companies later in the 2020s.

Coolant leaking from Russia's Soyuz crew capsule docked to the International Space Station.

Rescue Soyuz spacecraft can't reach International Space Station until February

By Elizabeth Howell published

Russia and NASA are still evaluating whether a leaky Soyuz spacecraft is safe to return three International Space Station crew members home.

Santa in his sleigh with reindeer in front, all wearing spacesuits in an artist's conception. the earth is below and the moon in behind

No chimney? No problem! How Santa will visit astronauts on the International Space Station (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published

With each of the International Space Station docking ports full, NASA has a backup plan to get the merry elf inside the orbiting complex.

In a view from NASA astronaut Frank Rubio's helmet-mounted camera, fellow NASA astronaut and Expedition 68 crewmate Josh Cassada can be seen watching as a new International Space Station (ISS) Roll-Out Solar Array (iROSA) unfurls during a spacewalk on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022.

NASA astronauts unfurl 4th roll-out solar array on spacewalk outside space station

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The International Space Station has a fourth new solar array thanks to the work of NASA astronauts Frank Rubio and Josh Cassda on a seven-hour spacewalk.

The Russian-built Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft docked at the International Space Station above a blue Earth.

Hole in leaky Russian Soyuz spacecraft not caused by Geminid meteor

By Mike Wall published

It's still unclear why a Russian Soyuz spacecraft at the International Space Station sprang a leak last week, but one suspect has been ruled out: a strike by a Geminid meteor.

An astronaut during a spacewalk.

Russian space debris forces space station to dodge, delays US spacewalk

By Tereza Pultarova last updated

A piece of Russian space junk forced NASA to call off a spacewalk and the International Space Station to dodge out of the way on Wednesday (Dec. 21).

NASA astronauts Frank Rubio (at left) and Josh Cassada (with back to the camera) work to install a mounting frame for a new International Space Station (ISS) Roll Out Solar Array (iROSA) during a spacewalk on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022.

Watch 2 NASA astronauts conduct spacewalk today after space debris delay [updated]

By Mike Wall last updated

Two NASA astronauts will conduct a spacewalk early Thursday (Dec. 22) to install new solar arrays on the International Space Station, and you can watch it live.

The Russian-built Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft docked at the International Space Station above a blue Earth.

Hole spotted in leaky Russian Soyuz spacecraft

By Mike Wall published

An inspection of the leaky Russian Soyuz spacecraft docked to the International Space Station has revealed a small hole, though it's unclear if it was caused by a micrometeoroid strike.

A camera on the International Space Station shows an apparent coolant leak on a Soyuz MS-22 crewed spacecraft docked at the station that forced Russian Mission Control to cancel a spacewalk by two cosmonauts on Dec. 14, 2022. The coolant leak appears as frozen white mist around the spacecraft.

Meteoroid strike may have caused Soyuz spacecraft leak, Russian state news reports

By Elizabeth Howell published

The Russian space agency has not yet disclosed a cause for the leak that sprung on a Soyuz spacecraft Thursday (Dec. 15), although a state agency speculated it might be a meteor.

The Russian-built Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft docked at the International Space Station above a blue Earth.

Leaky Soyuz spacecraft tests thrusters at space station, US spacewalk delayed

By Tariq Malik published

A leaky Russian-built Soyuz capsule at the International Space Station test-fired its thrusters on Friday (Dec. 16) as part of troubleshooting efforts.

A camera on the International Space Station shows an apparent coolant leak on a Soyuz MS-22 crewed spacecraft docked at the station that forced Russian Mission Control to cancel a spacewalk by two cosmonauts on Dec. 14, 2022. The coolant leak appears as frozen white mist around the spacecraft.

Soyuz capsule leak could strand 3 astronauts on space station, raising safety concern, expert says

By Tereza Pultarova published

A Russian Soyuz spacecraft docked to the International Space Station is most likely unusable after a coolant leak, which means the orbital outpost has a serious safety problem, an expert said.

Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina inspects the leaking Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft (right) with the European Robotic Arm on the International Space Station on Dec. 14, 2022.

Soyuz capsule leak at space station prompts Russia to postpone another spacewalk

By Tariq Malik published

Russia's space agency has called off another spacewalk at the International Space Station as engineers investigate a coolant leak on a docked Soyuz spacecraft.