National Aeronautics and Space Administration

UTILIZATION EDITION

SEPTEMBER 2015

REFERENCE GUIDE TO THE

SPACE STATION

INTERNATIONAL

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INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 

UTILIZATION EDITION

SEPTEMBER 2015

REFERENCE GUIDE TO THE

SPACE STATION

INTERNATIONAL

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FRONT COVER: Images from top to bottom: 1. NASA astronaut 

Steve Swanson is photographed near the Veggie facility in 

ExPRESS (Expedite the Processing of Experiments to Space 

Station) Rack 3 (ER3) during Veg-01 experiment initialization. 

2. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Aki Hoshide 

snaps a selfie, while in the midst of completing repairs on the ISS. 

In his visor you can see the robotic arm and the reflection of earth, 

while the sun shines behind him. 3. View of the Midwestern United 

States city lights at night with Aurora Borealis.

MESSAGE FROM THE PROGRAM MANAGER BACKGROUND: 

The night lights of cities in North and South America glow in this 

image captured by the Suomi NPP satellite and mapped over 

existing imagery of Earth. The Suomi NPP satellite has a Visible 

Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite which allows it to detect light 

in a range of wavelengths from green to near-infrared and uses 

filtering techniques to observe dim signals such as city lights, 

gas flares, auroras, wildfires and reflected moonlight. This image 

provides new meaning to the Earth being a spaceship traveling 

through the darkness and overwhelming expanse of space.

Reference guide to the International Space Station. – Utlization Edition.

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A MESSAGE FROM THE PROGRAM MANAGER | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 

A World-Class Laboratory 

in Space

I am pleased to provide this 2015 International Space Station (ISS) Reference 

Guide, Utilization Edition. The unique environment of space and the full capabilities 

of the ISS are available for innovative commercial use, including academic and 

government research. In this edition, we provide an overview of the ISS, describe 

its research facilities and accommodations, and provide key information to 

conduct your experiments on this unique orbiting laboratory. 

As of this writing, NASA and the space agencies of Russia, Japan, Europe and Canada have hosted 

investigators from 83 nations to conduct over 1700 investigations in the long-term micro-gravity environment 

on-board the ISS. Many investigators have published their findings and others are incorporating findings into 

follow-on investigations on the ground and onboard. Their research in the areas of earth and space science, 

biology, human physiology, physical sciences, and technology demonstration will bring yet to be discovered 

benefits to humankind and prepare us for our journey beyond low Earth orbit. 

While ISS has proven its value as a platform for a broad waterfront of research disciplines and technology 

development for exploration, NASA and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), are 

providing an ideal opportunity to test new business relationships. One that allows a shift from a paradigm of 

government-funded, contractor-provided goods and services to a commercially provided, government-asa-customer approach. From commercial firms spending some of their research and development funds to 

conduct applied research on the ISS, to commercial service providers selling unique services to users of the 

orbiting lab, the beginnings of a new economy in LEO are starting to emerge.

Please enjoy this latest iteration of the ISS Reference Guide and its focus on conducting pioneering science 

in micro-gravity. Herein we cover current capabilities, but the ISS is an extremely flexible platform. I invite you 

to use the additional resources listed in the back of this guide to learn more and I hope to work with you to 

conduct your experiment onboard the ISS soon. Please let us know if you have other needs to support your 

use of this amazing platform.

Sincerely,

MICHAEL T. SUFFREDINI

ISS Program Manager

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6 INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE Contents

Research/Research Accomodations 8

The Lab is Open - Unique Features of the ISS Research Environment 9

Destiny Racks 10

Kibo Racks 11

Columbus Racks 12

Internal Research Accommodations 13

External Research Accommodations 14

Biological Sciences and Biotechnology 15

Human Research 18

Physical Sciences 19

Earth and Space Science 21

Technology Demonstrations 23

Commercial Development 24

Education 25

Elements and Support Systems 26

U.S. Laboratory Module Destiny 27

European Research Laboratory Columbus 28

Japanese Experiment Module Kibo (Hope) 29

Nodes 30

Node 1 Unity 31

Node 2 Harmony 32

Node 3 Tranquility 33

Joint Airlock Quest 34

Cupola 35

Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) 36

Pressurized Mating Adapters (PMAs) 37

Functional Cargo Block (FCB) Zarya (Sunrise) 38

Docking Compartment (DC) Pirs (Pier) 39

Mini-Research Module 2 (MRM2) Poisk (Explore) 40

Mini-Research Module 1 (MRM1) Rassvet (Dawn) 41

Service Module (SM) Zvezda (Star) 42

Habitation 43

Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) 44

Crew Health Care System (CHeCS) 45

Computers and Data Management 46

Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) 47

Orlan Spacesuit 48

Mobile Servicing System (MSS) 49

Electrical Power System (EPS) 50

Guidance, Navigation and Control (GN&C) 51

Thermal Control System 52

Integrated Truss Assembly 53

Propulsion 54

Communications 55

Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris (MMOD) Protection 56

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International Partnership 57

ISS Operations and Management 58

Canada 60

Europe 61

Japan 62

Russia 63

United States of America 64

Soyuz 66

Progress 67

JAXA H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) 68

Space Shuttle Orbiter/Columbia, Discovery, Atlantis, Endeavour 69

Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) 70

Commercialization 71

Requirements and Benefits 72

Antares and Cygnus 73

Falcon 9 and Dragon 74

Assembly 75

ISS Expanded View 76

Principal Stages in Construction 78

Missions 88

ISS Expeditions and Crews 89

STS Missions and Crews 95

Soyuz ISS Missions 101

Unmanned ISS Missions 106

Reference 109

To Learn More 110

Acronym List 111

Definitions 114

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8 RESEARCH/RESEARCH ACCOMMODATIONS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE Research/ Research Accommodations The International Space Station (ISS) is a unique scientific platform that 

enables researchers from all over the world to put their talents to work on 

innovative experiments that could not be done anywhere else. Although 

each space station partner has distinct agency goals for station research, 

each partner shares a unified goal to extend the resulting knowledge for the 

betterment of humanity. Through advancing the state of scientific knowledge 

of our planet, looking after our health, developing advanced technologies 

and providing a space platform that inspires and educates the science and 

technology leaders of tomorrow, the benefits of the ISS will drive the legacy 

of the space station as its research strengthens economies and enhances the 

quality of life here on Earth for all people.

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Microgravity, or weightlessness, alters many 

observable phenomena within the physical and 

life sciences. Systems and processes affected by 

microgravity include surface wetting and interfacial 

tension, multiphase flow and heat transfer, multiphase 

system dynamics, solidification, and fire phenomena 

and combustion. Microgravity induces a vast array 

of changes in organisms ranging from bacteria 

to humans, including global alterations in gene 

expression and 3-D aggregation of cells into tissue-like 

architecture.

Extreme conditions in the ISS space environment 

include exposure to extreme heat and cold cycling, 

ultra-vacuum, atomic oxygen, and high energy 

radiation. Testing and qualification of materials 

exposed to these extreme conditions have provided 

data to enable the manufacturing of long-life 

reliable components used on Earth as well as in the 

world’s most sophisticated satellite and spacecraft 

components.

Low-Earth orbit at 51 degrees inclination and at 

a 90-minute orbit affords ISS a unique vantage point 

with an altitude of approximately 240 miles (400 

kilometers) and an orbital path over 90 percent of the 

Earth’s population. This can provide improved spatial 

resolution and variable lighting conditions compared 

to the sun-synchronous orbits of typical Earth remotesensing satellites.

The Lab Is Open

Unique Features of the ISS Research Environment

Through Expedition 40, 83 countries and areas (highlighted in green) 

have been involved in ISS Research and Educational activities

0% 

10% 

20% 

30% 

40% 

50% 

60% 

70% 

80% 

90% 

100% 

CSA ESA JAXA NASA/U.S. Roscosmos 

Research Discipline of ISS Investigations By Partner Agency: 

Expeditions 0-40 

December 1998 - September 2014 

Biology and 

Biotechnology 

Earth and Space 

Science 

Educational 

Activities 

Human Research 

Physical Science 

Technology 

27 247 485 604 399

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Destiny Racks

EXPRESS 

Rack 1

EXPRESS 

Rack 2

EXPRESS 

Rack 6

Microgravity 

Science Glovebox 

(MSG) 

EXPRESS 

Rack 7

Combustion 

Integrated Rack 

(CIR)

Fluids 

Integrated Rack 

(FIR)

Materials Science 

Research Rack-1 

(MSRR-1)

Window Observational 

Research Facility 

(WORF)

Sub-rack-sized experiments with 

standard utilities such as power, 

data, cooling, and gases.

Sub-rack-sized experiments with 

standard utilities such as power, 

data, cooling, and gases.

A complementary fluid physics 

research facility designed to 

accommodate a wide variety of 

microgravity experiments.

Accommodates studies of many 

different types of materials.

Provides a facility for Earth science 

research using the Destiny science 

window on the ISS.

Sub-rack-sized experiments with 

standard utilities such as power, 

data, cooling, and gases.

A dedicated science facility that 

provides a sealed environment to 

perform many different types of 

small “glovebox” sized experiments.

Sub-rack-sized experiments with 

standard utilities such as power, 

data, cooling, and gases.

Used to perform sustained, 

systematic combustion 

experiments in microgravity.

Minus Eighty-Degree 

Laboratory Freezer for 

ISS (MELFI-3)

A refrigerator/freezer for biological 

and life science samples.

This view in the International Space Station is looking into the Destiny Laboratory from Node 1 (Unity) with Node 2 (Harmony) in the background.

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Kibo Racks

NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman conducts a session with the Binary Colloidal Alloy Test (BCAT) experiment in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station.

Minus Eighty-Degree 

Laboratory Freezer for 

ISS (MELFI-1)

Saibo 

Experiment Rack

KOBAIRO

Minus Eighty-Degree 

Laboratory Freezer for 

ISS (MELFI-2)

Multipurpose Small 

Payload Rack 1

(MSPR-1)

EXPRESS 

Rack 4

EXPRESS 

Rack 5

Ryutai 

Experiment Rack

Multipurpose rack accommodating 

small experiments from various 

science disciplines.

Sub-rack-sized experiments with 

standard utilities such as power, 

data, cooling, and gases.

Sub-rack-sized experiments with 

standard utilities such as power, 

data, cooling, and gases.

A refrigerator/freezer for biological 

and life science samples.

A refrigerator/freezer for biological 

and life science samples.

A multipurpose payload rack 

system that sustains life science 

experiment units inside and 

supplies resources to them.

Science experiment rack 

accommodating a gradient heating 

furnace for material studies.

A multipurpose payload rack 

system that supports various fluid 

physics experiments.

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Columbus Racks

NASA astronaut Dan Burbank uses Neurospat hardware to perform a science session with the PASSAGES experiment in the Columbus laboratory.

KOBAIRO

Multipurpose Small 

Payload Rack 1

(MSPR-1)

Multipurpose rack accommodating 

small experiments from various 

science disciplines.

Science experiment rack 

accommodating a gradient heating 

furnace for material studies.

EXPRESS 

Rack 3

Muscle Atrophy 

Research and Exercise 

System (MARES)

Human Research 

Facility 

(HRF-1)

Biological Experiment 

Laboratory 

(BioLab)

European 

Drawer Rack

(EDR)

European Physiology 

Module

(EPM)

Fluid Science 

Laboratory

(FSL)

Human Research 

Facility 

(HRF-2)

Sub-rack-sized experiments with 

standard utilities such as power, 

data, cooling, and gases.

Used for research on 

musculoskeletal, biomechanical, 

and neuromuscular human 

physiology.

Enable researchers to study and 

evaluate the physiological, behavioral, 

and chemical changes induced by 

long-duration space flight.

Enable researchers to study and 

evaluate the physiological, behavioral, 

and chemical changes induced by 

long-duration space flight.

Used to perform space biology 

experiments on microorganisms, 

cells, tissue cultures, small plants, 

and small invertebrates.

Provides sub-rack-sized experiments with standard utilities such 

as power, data, and cooling.

Investigates the effects of shortand long-duration space flight on 

the human body.

A multi-user facility for conducting 

fluid physics research in microgravity conditions.

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Several research facilities are in place aboard the ISS to support 

microgravity science investigations, including those in biology, 

biotechnology, human physiology, material science, physical sciences, 

and technology development.

Standard Payload Racks

Research payload within the U.S., European, and Japanese laboratories 

typically are housed in a standard rack, such as the International Standard 

Payload Rack (ISPR). Smaller payloads may fit in ISS lockers carried in a 

rack framework.

Active Rack Isolation System (ARIS)

The ARIS is designed to isolate payload racks from vibration. The ARIS is an 

active electromechanical damping system attached to a standard rack that 

senses the vibratory environment with accelerometers and then damps it by 

introducing a compensating force.

Internal Research 

Accommodations

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams works in MELFI-2 rack in the U.S. Laboratory/Destiny.

Power

3, 6, or 12 kW, 114.5 to 126 voltage, direct current (VDC)

Data

Low rate MIL-STD-1553 bus 1 Mbp

High rate 100 Mbps

Ethernet 10 Mbps

Video NTSC

Gases

Nitrogen flow 0.1 kg/min minimum

517 to 827 kPa, nominal 

1,379 kPa, maximum

Argon, carbon dioxide, 

helium

517 to 768 kPa, nominal 

1,379 kPa, maximum

Cooling Loops

Moderate temperature 16.1 to 18.3 °C

Flow rate 0 to 45.36 kg/h

Low temperature 3.3 to 5.6 °C

Flow rate 233 kg/h

Vacuum

Venting 10–3 torr in less than 2 h 

for single payload of 100 L

Vacuum resource 10–3 torr

Research Rack Locations

International Pressurized Sites

Total by 

Module U.S. Shar

U.S. Destiny Laboratory 13 13

Japanese Kibo Laboratory 11 5

European Columbus Laboratory 10 5

Total 34 23

Upper Snubber

Actuator #7 Accelerometer #3

Remote Electronics 

Unit #3

Actuator #8

Remote Electronics 

Unit #1

Controller

Remote Electronics 

Unit #2

Actuator Driver

Actuator #5

Accelerometer #2

Sash & Coldplate

Hardback

Actuator #4

Actuator #6

Actuator #3

Actuator #1

Actuator #2

Accelerometer #1

Upper Snubber

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External Earth and Space Science hardware platforms are located at various 

places along the outside of the ISS. Locations include the Columbus External 

Payload Facility (CEPF), Russian Service Module, Japanese Experiment 

Module Exposed Facility (JEM-EF), four EXPRESS Logistics Carriers (ELC), 

and the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS). External facility investigations 

include those related to astronomy; Earth observation; and exposure to 

vacuum, radiation, extreme temperature, and orbital debris.

External Payload Accommodations

External payloads may be accommodated at several locations on the U.S. S3 

and P3 Truss segments. External payloads are accommodated on an Expedite 

the Processing of Experiments to the Space Station racks (EXPRESS) Logistics 

Carrier (ELC). Mounting spaces are provided, and interfaces for power and 

data are standardized to provide quick and straightforward payload integration. 

Payloads can be mounted using the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator 

(SPDM), Dextre, on the ISS’s robotic arm.

External Research 

Accommodations

Express Logistics Carrier (ELC) Resources

Mass capacity 227 kg (8 sites across 4 ELCs; not 

including adaptor plate)

Volume 1.2 m3

Power 750 W, 113 to 126 VDC

500 W at 28 VDC per adapter

Thermal Active heating, passive cooling 

Low-rate data 1 Mbps (MIL-STD-1553)

Mediumrate data 6 Mbps (shared)

Kibo Exposed Facility Resources

Mass capacity

– 500 kg Standard Site (10 Standard 

Sites, mass includes PIU adaptor)

– 2500 kg Heavy Site (3 Heavy Sites, 

mass includes PIU adaptor)

Volume 1.5 m3

Power 3 kW max, 113-126 VDC

Thermal 3–6 kW cooling

Low-rate data 1 Mbps (MIL-STD-1553)

High-rate data 43 Mbps (shared)

Ethernet: 100 Base-TX

Columbus External Payload Facility (CEPF) Resources

Mass capacity

230 kg per site (4 sites; uses 

Columbus External Payload Adapter 

(CEPA)

Volume 1.2 m3

Power 1250 W, 120 VDC

Thermal Passive

Low-rate data 1 Mbps (MIL-STD-1553)

Mediumrate data2 Mbps (shared)

Ethernet: 100 Base-TX

External Research Locations

External Unpressurized 

Attachment Sites Stationwide U.S. Share

U.S. Truss 8 8

Japanese Exposed Facility 10 5

European Columbus 

Research Laboratory 4 2

Total 22 15

Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility (JEM-EF).

The European Columbus Research Laboratory has four exterior 

mounting platforms that can accommodate external payloads.

Exterior nadir view of the ExPRESS Logistics Carrier 1 (ELC1) 

mounted to the P3 truss segment.

Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (SSOD) providing a novel, 

safe, small satellite launching capability.

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The ISS has scientific capabilities to provide a unique 

laboratory to investigate biological or life sciences 

without the constraint of gravity. Biological researchers 

are investigating a multitude of questions that include 

the role of gravity and genomic diversity in biological 

processes. They are also contributing to finding 

solutions for biomedical problems that occur both 

on Earth and in space, in addition to the biological 

responses to multiple stressors.

Cells, microbes, animals and plants have evolved and 

developed in gravity, and the role of this environment 

on the regulation of biological processes is beginning 

to be understood. Genetic diversity in some systems 

is obscured in the Earth environment; use of a 

microgravity environment is providing unique insights 

into such regulation. Previous microgravity studies 

observed increased virulence in microbes, pluripotency 

of stem cells, and tissue morphogenesis patterns. 

Results obtained from ISS research have implications 

for understanding basic biological processes, 

understanding stress response, developing drugs and 

therapeutics that can combat diseases, improving 

food supplies on Earth, and enhancing life-support 

capabilities for the exploration of space. In addition, 

better understanding of some of these biological 

processes (such as microbial virulence and the 

behavior of planktonic vs. biofilm forms of bacteria) 

could also have implications for astronaut health and 

also for improving life here on Earth.

Cellular and Molecular Biology

Cellular Biology includes cell culture, tissue culture and 

related microbial (single-cell organism) experiments. 

These cell-based studies in microgravity support 

many areas of basic and applied research for space 

exploration and Earth applications. The environment 

of space offers a unique opportunity for novel 

discoveries of cellular and tissue adaptation. These 

novel discoveries have applications in understanding 

changes to human health during long-duration 

spaceflight and to Earth-based medicine in such 

areas of biomedical research as tissue engineering, 

host-pathogen interactions, vaccine development and 

drug discovery. Using gravity as a variable enables 

two broad classes of space cell biology research: 

(a) understanding fundamental mechanisms of life’s 

responses to changes in gravity and (b) using gravity as 

a tool to advance biological applications in the field of 

tissue engineering. 

Biological Sciences and Biotechnology

Top view of enclosed Bioculture System cassette. Image courtesy of Tissue 

Genesis, Inc.

Hand-Held High Density Protein Crystal Growth (HDPCG). 

ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst working on the T-Cell Activation 

investigation. 

View of Russian cosmonaut Elena Serova as she performs the RJR 

Augmented Microbial Sampling investigation by taking air samples 

with Microbial Air Sampler. 

NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg harvests 

plants from JAXA’s Resist Tubule 

investigation. 

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In the area of molecular biology, protein crystallization 

is at the forefront of this discipline. Proteins are 

biological macromolecules that function in an aqueous 

environment. Biotechnology and pharmaceutical 

researchers carry out the process of protein 

crystallization in order to grow large, well-ordered 

crystals for use in X-ray and neutron diffraction studies. 

However, on Earth, the protein crystallization process 

is hindered by forces of sedimentation and convection 

since the molecules in the crystal solution are not of 

uniform size and weight. This leads to many crystals 

of irregular shape and small size that are unusable for 

diffraction. Diffraction is a complex process and the 

quality of data obtained about the three-dimensional 

structure of a protein is directly dependent on 

the degree of perfection of the crystals. Thus, the 

structures of many important proteins remain a mystery 

simply because researchers are unable to obtain 

crystals of high quality or large size. Consequently, 

the growth of high quality macromolecular crystals for 

diffraction analysis has been of primary importance for 

protein engineers, biochemists, and pharmacologists.

Fortunately, the microgravity environment aboard the 

ISS is relatively free from the effects of sedimentation 

and convection and provides an exceptional 

environment for crystal growth. Crystals grown 

in microgravity could help scientists gain detailed 

knowledge of the atomic, three-dimensional 

structure of many important protein molecules used 

in pharmaceutical research for cancer treatments, 

stroke prevention and other diseases. The knowledge 

gained could be instrumental in the design and testing 

of new drugs.

Microbial Research 

A human is both an individual organism and an entire 

ecosystem, including microorganisms in, on, and 

around them in which the human cells are greatly 

outnumbered by the microbial cells. The microbial 

inhabitants in and on the person outnumber the human 

cells 10 to 1. For the most part, these microorganisms 

are beneficial to their human host or otherwise 

innocuous. Given the right opportunity, either a shift in 

the environment of the host or the invasion to a new 

location within the host, can cause the microorganisms 

to become pathogenic.

Significant strides have been made to define and 

mitigate the source of microbial contamination 

aboard spacecraft and to document the responses 

of numerous microorganisms to the spaceflight 

environment. Both experience and research data 

has helped in the identification of critical gaps in 

scientist’s understanding of how this environment 

impacts microbial ecology, the microbial genotypic 

and phenotypic characteristics, and their interactions 

with plant and animal hosts. As we look toward human 

interplanetary exploration, the importance of this 

knowledge has been recognized. With the increases in 

both the occupancy and duration of humans aboard 

the ISS, these knowledge gaps are becoming better 

defined. With the laboratory platform aboard ISS, many 

of these gaps for future spaceflight can be understood.

Animal Biology

The International Space Station provides a unique 

environment in which to study the effects of 

microgravity and the space environment on various 

organisms. Rodents (rats and mice) are the animal 

models most commonly used to study fundamental 

biological processes in space: predominately rats, 

followed by mice. Given that human astronauts and 

Hand-Held High Density Protein Crystal Growth (HDPCG). 

NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman activates the BRIC-19 investigation. 

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cosmonauts routinely spend 180 days or longer on 

the ISS, that amount of time represents a significant 

portion of the lifespan of a rodent. Studies with 

rodents in space have been useful and important for 

extrapolating the implications for humans living in 

space and more work remains to be done (National 

Research Council [U.S.], 2011).

One example is the leveraging of current technology 

such as using genetically engineered mice in flight 

experiments to investigate the molecular mechanisms 

of bone loss that occurs during exposure to 

microgravity for possible pharmacological intervention. 

NASA is particularly interested in studies that 

enable a better understanding of how mechanisms 

governing homeostasis at the genetic, molecular and 

cellular levels are integrated to regulate adaptation 

to spaceflight at the physiological system or wholeanimal level.

Plant Biology

The progress in plant space biology over the 

past quarter century has greatly increased our 

understanding of how plants: respond to gravity; 

informed the design of advanced plant growth 

facilities; achieved the completed life cycle; and 

demonstrated that physiological processes necessary 

for biological life support are sustainable. In the 

process, the horticulture of plants in the unique 

environment of microgravity was being developed, 

and plant/microbe interactions were explored. The 

advances made during the decades of spaceflight 

experimentation have also identified critical gaps in our 

understanding of the role of gravity and the spaceflight 

environment on plant biology at the cellular, tissue, 

whole plant, and community levels. 

In this context, the International Space Station is a 

unique platform where reduced gravity can be used 

to probe and dissect biological mechanisms in plants 

for understanding how terrestrial biology responds to 

gravity. This knowledge is important for supporting 

safe and long-term human habitation in space using 

bio-regenerative life support, utilizing plants and 

microbial communities, and for reducing exploration 

risks to crews by designing countermeasures to 

problems associated with living in space. In addition, 

by using the facilities with centrifuges, scientists can 

investigate how plants respond to the reduced gravity 

environments on the moon and Mars. 

Interior view of the rodents found within the rodent habitat. 

JAXA astronaut Aki Hoshide works on the Multipurpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) in 

preparation for the arrival of the JAXA Medaka Osteoclast experiment. 

NASA astronaut Steve Swanson is photographed near the Veggie facility in ExPRESS 

(Expedite the Processing of Experiments to Space Station). 

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NASA’s history has proven that humans are able 

to live safely and work in space. The ISS serves as 

a platform to extend and sustain human activities 

in preparation for long-duration, exploration-class 

missions. It provides opportunities to address critical 

medical questions about astronaut health through 

multidisciplinary research operations to advance our 

understanding and capabilities for space exploration.

The multi-disciplinary biomedical research currently 

underway on the ISS include studies addressing 

behavioral health and performance, bone and muscle 

physiology, exercise countermeasures, cardiovascular 

physiology, nutrition, and immunology. These life 

sciences research studies aim to provide a thorough 

understanding of the many physiologic changes that 

occur in a microgravity environment. Among the many 

physiological changes that occur in the human body 

include susceptibility to fainting after landing, vision 

changes potentially because of the harmful effects of 

microgravity on the eye and optic nerve, changes in 

blood volume, reduction in heart size and capacity, 

alterations in posture and locomotion, decreases 

in aerobic capacity and muscle tone, difficulty 

sleeping, increased risk for renal stone formation, and 

weakened bones.

The research focuses on astronaut health 

and performance and the development of 

countermeasures that will protect crew members 

from the space environment during long-duration 

voyages, evaluate new technologies to meet the 

needs of future exploration missions and develop 

and validate operational procedures for long-duration 

space missions.

Human Research

NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins performs ultrasound eye imaging while European 

Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano assists. 

ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti exercises on the Advanced Resistive Exercise 

Device (ARED).

NASA astronaut Catherine Coleman prepares to insert samples into 

the Minus Eighty Degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). 

NASA astronaut Terry Virts must maintain a well balanced diet while 

in microgravity to help avoid additional bone and muscle loss. 

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams as she 

underwent a blood draw to support Human 

Research. 

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The ISS provides a long-duration spaceflight 

environment for conducting microgravity physical 

science research. The microgravity environment greatly 

reduces buoyancy driven convection, pressure head, 

and sedimentation in fluids. By eliminating gravity or 

using gravity as a factor in experimental design, the 

ISS allows physical scientists to better understand fluid 

physics; the dynamics of interfaces, such as the line 

of contact between a liquid and a gas; the physical 

behavior of systems made up wholly or partially of 

particles; combustion processes in the absence of 

buoyant convection and the properties of materials. 

Fluid Physics

A fluid is any material that flows in response to an 

applied force; thus, both liquids and gases are fluids. 

Nearly all of the life support, environmental and 

biological, processes take place in the fluid phase. 

Fluid motion accounts for most transport and mixing 

in both natural and man-made processes as well as 

within all living organisms. Fluid physics is the study of 

the motions of liquids and gases and the associated 

transport of mass, momentum and energy. The need 

for a better understanding of fluid behavior has created 

a vigorous, multidisciplinary research community 

whose ongoing vitality is marked by the continuous 

emergence of new fields in both basic and applied 

science. In particular, the low- gravity environment 

offers a unique opportunity for the study of fluid 

physics and transport phenomena. The nearly 

weightless conditions allow researchers to observe 

and control fluid phenomena in ways that are not 

possible on Earth.

Experiments conducted in space have yielded rich 

results. Some were unexpected and most could not be 

observed in Earth-based labs. These results provided 

valuable insights into fundamental fluid behavior that 

apply to both terrestrial and space environments. In 

addition, research on fluid management and heat 

transfer for both propulsion and life-support systems, 

have contributed greatly to U.S. leadership in space 

exploration.

Physical Sciences

NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman conducts a session with the Binary Colloidal Alloy Test.

Flame burning in microgravity. ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti using the Capillary Beverage 

Cup in the Cupola. 

A close-up view of the Capillary Flow 

Experiments-2. 

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Combustion

Combustion occurs when fuel and oxygen react to 

produce carbon dioxide, water and heat. For the 

foreseeable future the overwhelming majority of 

delivered energy in terrestrial applications will be from 

combustion or other chemically reacting systems. 

These energy uses cover the range from electric power 

and transportation to processes directly tied to the 

delivered material (e.g., glass and steel manufacture). 

These processes produce some of the most important 

environmental hazards currently facing humanity 

(global climate change, acid gas pollution, mercury 

contamination from coal, and wild-land fires).

Despite being the subject of active research for 

over 80 years, combustion processes remain one 

of the most poorly controlled phenomena that have 

a significant impact on human health, comfort and 

safety. This is because the simplest combustor (e.g., 

kitchen stove) remains beyond our detailed numerical 

modeling capabilities. The combustion process 

typically involves a large number of chemical species 

(hundreds) and reactions (even thousands). It is these 

species and reactions that determine flammability limits 

(combustor operating ranges) and pollutant emissions. 

Much of combustion research involves developing 

a comprehensive and predictive quantitative 

understanding of this complex process. 

The ISS allows for the variance or elimination of 

the effects of gravity. By doing this, we can extract 

fundamental data that is important for understanding 

combustion systems. This approach has been 

implemented to some extent in existing terrestrial 

reduced-gravity platforms, but the experimental time 

scales and sizes have been limited. Long-duration 

experiments using realistic sizes are essential for a 

comprehensive understanding of the combustion 

phenomena and are possible only in the microgravity 

environments offered by space facilities. 

Materials Science

Most materials are formed from a partially or totally 

fluid sample and the transport of heat and mass 

inherently influences the formation of the material and 

its resultant properties. The reduction in gravity related 

sources of heat and mass transport may be used to 

determine how the material processes are affected 

by gravitational driven and gravitationally independent 

Image taken during a BASS-II (Burning and Suppression of Solids - II) experiment sources of heat and mass transfer. 

flame test. 

Images of the Materials Science Research Rack (MSRR).

Interior view of the EML experiment. Image credit: European Space Agency (ESA).

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The presence of the space station in low-Earth orbit 

provides a vantage point for collecting Earth and space 

data. From an altitude of about 400 km, details in such 

features as Glaciers, agricultural fields, cities, and coral 

reefs taken from the ISS can be layered with other 

sources of data, such as orbiting satellites, to compile 

the most comprehensive information available.

Earth Observation

While NASA and other space agencies have had 

remote-sensing systems orbiting Earth and collecting 

publically available data since the early 1970s, these 

sensors have been primarily carried aboard free-flying, 

unmanned satellites. These satellites have typically 

been placed into sun-synchronous polar orbits that 

allow for repeat imaging of the entire surface of the 

Earth with approximately the same sun illumination 

(typically local solar noon) over specific areas, with set 

revisit times—this allows for uniform data to be taken 

over long time periods and enables straightforward 

analysis of change over time. 

The ISS is a unique remote sensing platform from 

several perspectives—unlike automated remotesensing platforms—it has a human crew, a low-orbit 

altitude, and orbital parameters that provide variable 

views and lighting. The presence of a crew provides 

options not available to robotic sensors and platforms, 

such as the ability to collect unscheduled data of an 

unfolding event using handheld digital cameras as part 

of the Crew Earth Observations facility and real-time 

assessment of whether environmental conditions 

(like cloud cover) are favorable for data collection. 

The crew can also swap out internal sensor systems 

and payloads installed in the Window Observational 

Research Facility (WORF) on an as-needed basis.

Earth and Space Science

Artistic representation of the Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS) that is being used 

to measure clouds and aerosols in the Earth’s atmosphere. 

JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata works with the Window Observational Research Facility 

(WORF) rack. 

Artistic representation of the ISS RapidScat payload that is being used to measure wind 

speeds and directions over the oceans. Image credit: NASA/JPL.

One of the more spectacular scenes of the Aurora Australis was 

photographed by one of the Expedition 40 crew members. 

The expedition 41 crew took pictures of the Atlantic Hurricane 

Edouard. 

Image taken for the Hyperspectral Imager 

for the Coastal Ocean (HICO) investigation. 

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Fundamental Physics

Studies in fundamental physics address space, time, 

energy, and the building blocks of matter. The primary 

theories of modern physics are based upon Einstein’s 

theory of relativity and the standard model of particle 

physics. However, as scientists, we know that the 

picture painted by these theories remains incomplete. 

Einstein’s theory of gravitation remains unproved to be 

consistent with the theories that define other forces 

of nature in all length scales. Furthermore, recent 

astronomical observation and cosmological models 

strongly suggest that dark matter and dark energy, 

which are entities not directly observed and not at 

all understood, dominate these interactions at the 

largest scales. All these unexplained observations and 

inconsistencies point to the potential for discovery of 

new theories. The ISS provides a modern and wellequipped orbiting laboratory for long-term micro-gravity 

environment research. Routine and continued access 

to this environment allows for fundamental physics 

research to be performed from a completely different 

vantage point.

The International Space Station provides a unique 

space laboratory for a set of fundamental physics 

experiments with regimes and precision not achievable 

on the ground. Some of the advantages of the space 

environment for experiments include:

• Long-duration exposure to the orbital free-fall

environment

• Ease of measurement of changes of gravitational 

potential and relative motions

• Study of very small accelerations on celestial 

bodies 

• Reduced atmospheric interference on the 

propagation of optical and radio signals

• Ability to track and fit to theory very long time 

segments of body orbital motion

Exterior view of the International Space Station (ISS) taken during an Extravehicular 

Activity (EVA) with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer - 02 (AMS-02) visible in the 

foreground. 

View of DEvice for the study of Critical LIquids and Crystallization (DECLIC) 

Experiment Locker.

Dendritic pattern of the Succinonitrile-Camphor alloy grown in microgravity, seen from 

the top. Image courtesy of Nathalie Bergeon.

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The ISS provides an infrastructure capable of 

demonstrating prototypes and systems that may 

advance spaceflight technology readiness. The 

space station, the in-orbit crew, the launch and return 

vehicles, and the operation control centers are all 

supporting the demonstration of advanced systems 

and operational concepts that will be needed for future 

exploration missions.

The ISS is the only long-duration platform available 

in the relevant space environment with an integrated 

space systems architecture that can be used to 

demonstrate advanced technologies and operations 

concepts. Working in close cooperation with the 

exploration community, the ISS Program is enabling 

technology and systems investigations in support of 

future exploration endeavors. NASA has identified 11 

exploration technology areas of interest that ISS is 

capable of supporting.

• In-Space Propulsion

• Space Power and Energy

• Robotics, Tele-Robotics and Autonomous Systems

• Communication and Navigation

• Life Support and habitation Systems

• Exploration Destination Systems

• Science Instruments

• Entry, Descent and landing Systems

• Materials Structures and Manufacturing

• Thermal Management Systems

• Operational Processes and Procedures

Technology Demonstrations

NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy poses for a photo while conducting a session with a pair 

of bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellites known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, 

Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES. 

NASA astronaut Steve Swanson takes a picture with Robonaut after installation of the 

Robonaut legs. 

NASA Astronaut Barry (Butch) Wilmore holds a 3-D printed ratchet 

wrench from the new 3-D printer. 

Cyclops enables the space-based launch of a new class of satellites, which are larger than cubesats but not large 

enough to require their own Earth-based launch vehicles. 

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While the International Space Station (ISS) has 

proven its value as a platform for a broad waterfront 

of research disciplines as well as technology 

development, it also provides an ideal opportunity 

to test new business relationships. This allows an 

opportunity to shift from a paradigm of governmentfunded, contractor-provided goods and services to a 

commercially provided, government-as-a-customer 

approach.

This interest in promoting a more commercially 

oriented market in low-Earth orbit (LEO) is driven 

by several goals. First, it can stimulate entirely new 

markets not achievable in the past. Second, it creates 

new stakeholders in spaceflight and represents great 

economic opportunity. Third, it ensures strong industrial 

capability not only for future spaceflight but also for 

the many related industries. Finally, and perhaps 

most importantly, it allows cross-pollination of ideas, 

processes, and best practices, between partners of 

equal standing.

From commercial firms spending some of their 

research and development funds to conduct research 

on the space station, to commercial service providers 

selling unique services to users of the orbiting lab, the 

beginnings of a new economy in LEO is starting to 

emerge.

Commercial Development

Various sizes of Cubelab modules are available. Image courtesy of NanoRacks.

Cubelabs fit within SubeLab Modules that will in turn fit into an EXPRESS Rack on 

the ISS. Image courtesy of NanoRacks.

NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer. The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module. Image Courtesy of Bigelow.

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The International Space Station has a unique 

ability to capture the interests of both students 

and teachers worldwide. The presence of humans 

onboard ISS has provided a foundation for numerous 

educational activities aimed at capturing that interest 

and motivating study in the sciences, technology, 

engineering and mathematics (STEM). Over 43 million 

students from 64 countries around the world have 

participated in ISS-related educational activities. Having 

the opportunity to connect with crewmembers realtime, either through”live” downlinks or simply speaking 

via a ham radio, ignites the imagination of students 

about space exploration and its application to the 

STEM fields. Projects such as Earth Knowledge-based 

Acquired by Middle Schools (EarthKAM) have allowed 

for global student, teacher and public access to space 

through student image acquisition. This serves to 

support inquiry-based learning which is an approach 

to science education that allows students to ask 

questions, develop hypothesis-derived experiments, 

obtain supporting evidence, analyze data, and identify 

solutions or explanations. 

Through the life of ISS operations, these projects 

and their accompanying educational materials will 

continue to be made available to more students and 

more countries. Through expanded international 

cooperation, the next generation of scientists, 

engineers and explorers from our global community will 

have the capability to learn more about and be involved 

in space exploration. 

Education

A Canadian student from Good Shepherd School in Peace River, Alberta, studies orbital 

paths of the International Space Station. 

NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly poses with 600,000 tomato seeds for the TomatosphereTM 

educational project. 

After completing its pupa stage, a Monarch butterfly emerges on the International 

Space Station on Nov. 30, 2009 during the latest in a series of educational experiments 

designed to accompany in-class experiments for teachers and students.

Credit: NASA/BioServe, University of Colorado

Students participating in STEM education training. JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata reads a book to students in 

the Cupola. 

Students learning about different STEM 

opportunities at NASA.

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The International Space Station modules serve as a habitat for its crew 

and provide ports for docking and berthing of visiting vehicles. The station 

functions as a microgravity and life sciences laboratory, test bed for new 

Elements and Support Systems

technologies, and platform for Earth and celestial observations.

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The U.S. Laboratory Module, called Destiny, is the primary research 

laboratory for U.S. payloads, supporting a wide range of experiments and 

studies contributing to health, safety, and quality of life for people all over 

the world. 

Science conducted on the ISS offers researchers an unparalleled 

opportunity to test physical processes in the absence of gravity. The results 

of these experiments will allow scientists to better understand our world 

and ourselves and prepare us for future missions. Destiny provides internal 

interfaces to accommodate 24 equipment racks for accommodation and 

control of ISS systems and scientific research.

U.S. Laboratory Module 

Destiny

NASA/Boeing

Length 8.5 m (28 ft) 

Length with attached 

Common Berthing 

Mechanism (CBM)

9.2 m (30.2 ft )

Width 4.3 m diameter (14 ft)

Launch Mass 14,515 kg (32,000 lb)

Exterior Aluminum, 3 cylindrical 

sections, 2 endcones

Number of racks 24 (13 scientific and

11 system)

Windows 1, with a diameter of 

50.9 cm (20 in)

Launch date February 7, 2001

STS-98 

5A

Rack Locations (24)

Hatch and Berthing 

Mechanism

Endcone

Airflow and Plumbing 

Crossover

Corner Standoffs for Utilities 

and Plumbing (4)

NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman is pictured in the Harmony node looking through the Destiny 

laboratory.

NASA astronaut Doug Wheelock as he retrieves 2D Nano Template sample bags from the Minus 

Eighty Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI) in U.S. Laboratory Destiny.

Visible are the Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 

(PMA2),Destiny laboratory module,and Node 1. 

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The Columbus Research Laboratory is Europe’s largest contribution to the 

International Space Station. Columbus is a multifunctional pressurized 

laboratory permanently attached to Node 2 of the ISS. The Columbus 

laboratory’s flexibility provides room for the researchers on the ground, aided 

by the station’s crew, to conduct thousands of experiments in life sciences, 

materials sciences, fluid physics and other research in a weightless 

environment not possible on Earth. In addition, experiments and applications 

can be conducted outside the module within the vacuum of space, thanks 

to four exterior mounting platforms that can accommodate external 

payloads in space science, Earth observation and technology.

European Research Laboratory 

Columbus

European Space Agency (ESA)/European Aeronautic 

Defence and Space Co. (EADS) Space Transportation

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano works with the Biolab in the Columbus laboratory of the International 

Space Station. Biolab is used to perform space biology experiments on microorganisms, cells, tissue 

cultures, plants and small invertebrates.

An interior view of the Columbus laboratory of the International Space Station.

Columbus attached to the ISS. 

Length 6.9 m (22.6 ft)

Diameter 4.5 m (14.7 ft)

Launch Mass 10,300 kg (22,700 lb)

Launch date February 7, 2008

STS-122

1E

Racks 10 International

Standard Payload 

Racks (ISPRs)

Power Data Grapple Fixture (PDGF) for maneuvering 

by remote manipulator system

External 

Payload 

Facility

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Berthed to

Node 2

GPS Antennas

Japanese Experiment 

Module Pressurized 

Module (JEM-PM)

Experiment Logistics 

Module Pressurized 

Section (ELM-PS)

Small Fine Arm

Main Arm

Payload 

Airlock

Window

Exposed Facility (EF) 

Experiment Logistics 

Module Exposed 

Section (ELM-ES)

Japanese Experiment Module Remote 

Manipulator System (JEM-RMS)

EF Viewing Facility

Interorbit Communications 

System (ICS)

EF 

EF Berthing Mechanism

EF Bus Units

Fine Arm Stage

Experiments

Common Berthing

Mechanism

Experiment 

Racks

JEM Pressurized Module 

PM/EF 

Mating 

Mechanism

Payload

Airlock

JEM Remote Manipulator 

System (JEM-RMS)

Workstation 

Rack

Stowage Rack

Power System Rack

Environmental Control 

and Life-Support/Thermal 

Control System Rack

Communications 

Rack

RMS 

Console

The Japanese Experiment Module (JEM), known as “Kibo” (pronounced keybow), which means “hope” in Japanese, is Japan’s human-rated space facility 

and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA’s) first contribution to the 

ISS program.

Kibo was designed and developed with a view to conducting scientific 

research activities on orbit. Thus, as a part of the ISS, Kibo provides extensive 

opportunities for utilization of the space environment performing experimental 

activities. Resources necessary for Kibo’s on-orbit operation, such as air, 

power, data, and cooling fluid, are provided from the U.S. segment of the ISS. 

Currently, educational, cultural, and commercial uses of Kibo are also planned.

Japanese Experiment Module

Kibo (Hope)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)/

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

NASA astronauts Scott Kelly (left) and Terry Virts (right) work 

on a Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) inside the 

station’s Japanese Experiment Module.

View of the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Pressurized 

Module (JPM),Japanese Experiment Logistics ModulePressurized Section (JLP),and JEM Exposed Facility (JEF).

PM ELM-PS

Diameter 4.4 m (14.4 ft) 4.4 m (14.4 ft)

Length 11.2 m (36.7 ft) 4.2 m (13.9ft)

Launch Mass 15,900 kg 

(35,050 lb)

4,200 kg 

(9,260 lb)

Launch date

May 31, 2008

STS-124

1J

March 11, 2008

STS-123 

1J/A

EF

Dimensions 5.6 × 5 × 4 m (18.4 × 16.4 × 13.1 ft)

Launch Mass 4,100 kg (9,038 lb)

Launch date

July 15, 2009 

STS-127

2J/A 

JEM Remote Manipulator System

Main Arm length 10 m (32.9 ft)

Small Fine Arm length 2.2 m (7.3 ft)

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Nodes are U.S. modules that connect the elements of the ISS. Node 1, 

called Unity, was the first U.S.-built element that was launched, and it 

connects the U.S. and Russian segments. 

Node 2 (Harmony) and Node 3 (Tranquility) are European-built elements 

and are each one rack bay longer than Node 1. Node 2 connects the U.S., 

European, and Japanese laboratories, as well as providing a nadir berthing 

port and a forward PMA-2 docking port. Node 3 is attached to the port 

side of Node 1 and provides accommodation for life-support and exercise 

equipment.

Nodes

Astronaut Reid Wiseman is photographed at work in the Node 2 module. He is joined by Astronaut Steve Swanson (left).

Node 1

Node 3

Node 2

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Node 1’s six ports provide berthing connections to the Z1 Truss, U.S. 

Laboratory Module, Airlock, Node 3 and PMA/FGB. In the summer of 2015, 

the Node 1 nadir port will be available as a second berthing port for visiting 

cargo vehicles. 

Node 1 

Unity

NASA/Boeing

The moments are far and few between when crewmembers have an opportunity to gather 

together. Pictured here in Node 1 are Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency at the right. 

Clockwise from his position are the five flight engineers -- NASA astronauts Tom Marshburn 

and Chris Cassidy, and Russian cosmonauts Alexander Misurkin, Roman Romanenko and Pavel 

Vinogradov. 

Node 1 is shown with the Russian segment FGB to the right (aft), the U.S. Laboratory to the left (fore), the U.S. Airlock at 

the bottom (starboard), and PMA-3 at the top (port).

NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg is pictured near fresh fruit floating freely in the Unity 

Node 1 module.

Length 5.5 m (18 ft) 

Width (diameter) 4.3 m (14 ft)

Mass 11,895 kg (26,225 lb)

Exterior Aluminum cylindrical 

sections, 2 endcones

Number of racks 4

Launch date December 4, 1998

STS-88

2A

Placement of 

racks in Node 1.

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Node 2 was built in Europe by Thales Alenia Space Italy (TAS-I) under 

contract of the European Space Agency. It incorporates six berthing ports: 

two in the longitudinal axis and four on the radial perpendicular axes. Node 2 

is attached to the forward end of the U.S. laboratory and connects Columbus, 

the European laboratory, on the starboard side; Kibo, the Japanese 

laboratory, on the port side; the Pressurized Mating Adaptor 2 (PMA-2) 

on the forward side, which provides a docking location for visiting vehicles. 

On the nadir (Earth-facing) side, Node 2 provides a berthing port for the H-II 

Transfer Vehicle (HTV), a Japanese cargo vehicle as well as commercial cargo 

vehicles,. In the summer of 2015, the PMA3 (currently on Node 3) will be 

relocated to provide a second U.S. docking port on the zenith port of Node 

2. In addition, Node 2 provides crew quarters for 4 crew members as well as 

vital functional resources for the operation of the connected elements, namely 

the conversion and distribution of the electrical power, heating, cooling 

resources from the ISS Integrated Truss, and support of the data and video 

exchange with the ground and the rest of the ISS.

Node 2 

Harmony

NASA/ESA/Thales Alenia Space Italy (TAS-I)

ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti works on the Maintenance 

Work Area (MWA) which provides a rigid surface on which to perform 

maintenance tasks.

ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst conducts a session with the Capillary 

Flow Experiment (CFE-2) in the Harmony Node 2.

Exterior view of Node 2. 

Length 6.7 m (22 ft)

Width (diameter) 4.3 m (14 ft)

Mass 14,787 kg (32,599 lb)

Exterior Aluminum cylindrical 

sections, 2 endcones

Number of racks 8

Launch date October 23, 2007

STS-120

10A

Initially Node 2 was berthed on the starboard port of Node 1. The ISS’s remote manipulator moved Node 2 to the forward port 

the U.S. Lab. PMA2 is berthed to the front port of Node 2.

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Node 3 was built in Europe by Thales Alenia Space Italy (TAS-I) under 

contract of the European Space Agency. Node 3 is attached to the port side 

of Node 1, and the Cupola is berthed on its nadir (Earth facing) port. The 

PMA-3 is currently attached to the Node 3 port. The zenith port has been 

inhibited and modified to become the parking location for the Special Purpose 

Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM). In the summer of 2015, the PMM will be 

relocated from the Node 1 nadir port to the Node 3 forward port and the 

PMA-3 will be relocated to Node 2 zenith port. The port and aft ports are 

then available for further ISS additions.

Node 3 accommodates ISS air revitalization, oxygen generation, carbon 

dioxide removal and water recovery systems. It also contains the bathroom 

for the crew hygiene and exercising equipment such as a treadmill and a 

weight-lifting device.

Node 3 

Tranquility

NASA/ESA/Thales Alenia Space Italy (TAS-I)

Exterior view of the P1 truss segment, Node 3/Tranquility and Cupola. 

Interior view of the Node 3/Tranquility.

View of the Waste Management Compartment (WMC) in the 

Node 3 module.

NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy enters data in a computer in the Tranquility node.

Length 6.7 m (22 ft)

Width (diameter) 4.3 m (14 ft)

Mass 17,992 kg (39,665 lb)

Exterior Aluminum cylindrical 

sections, 2 endcones

Number of racks 8

Launch dates February 8, 2010

STS-130 

20A

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The Quest Airlock is a pressurized space station module consisting of two 

compartments attached end-to-end by a connecting bulkhead and hatch. 

The two compartments consist of: the Equipment Lock, which provides the 

systems and volume for suit maintenance and refurbishment, and the Crew 

Lock, which provides the actual exit for performing EVAs. The airlock is the 

primary path for International Space Station spacewalk entry and departure 

for U.S. spacesuits, which are known as Extravehicular Mobility Units, or 

EMUs. Quest can also support the Russian Orlan spacesuit for spacewalks.

Joint Airlock

Quest

NASA/Boeing

View of NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy (left) and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano (right) preparing for a 

dry run in the International Space Stations Quest airlock in preparation for the first of two sessions of 

extravehicular activity. Both are wearing a liquid cooling and ventilation garment and preparing to don 

their EMUs. Astronaut Karen Nyberg, is visible in the foreground.

NASA astronaut Doug Wheelock enters the Quest airlock as the session of 

extravehicular activity draws to a close.

Nitrogen Tan

Oxyge

Tank

Nitrogen Tank

Oxygen

Tank

Oxygen 

Tank

EVA Hatch

Toolbox 1

Toolbox 2

Length 5.5 m (18 ft)

Width 4.0 m (13.1 ft)

Mass 9,923 kg (21,877 lb)

Launch

date

July 12, 2001

STS-104

7A

EVA Hatch 

Intravehicular 

Hatch 

Common Berthing

Mechanism and 

Node Hatch

Don/Doff

Assembly

Battery Stowage

Assembly (BSA) 

Power Supply

Assembly (PSA)

Battery Charging 

Assembly (BCA)

Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) 

Water Recharge Bag

In-Flight Refill Unit (IRU)

Equipment Lock

Crew Lock

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The Cupola (named after the raised observation deck on a railroad caboose) 

is a small module designed for the observation of operations outside the 

ISS such as robotic activities, the approach of vehicles, and extravehicular 

activity (EVA). It was built in Europe by Thales Alenia Space Italy (TAS-I) 

under contract of the European Space Agency. It provides 

spectacular views of Earth and celestial objects. The 

Cupola has six side windows and a direct nadir viewing 

window, all of which are equipped with shutters to protect 

them from contamination and collisions with orbital debris 

or micrometeorites. The Cupola is designed to house 

the robotic workstation that controls the ISS’s remote 

manipulator arm. It can accommodate two crewmembers 

simultaneously and is berthed to the Earth facing side of 

Node-3 using a Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM).

Cupola

NASA/ESA/Thales Alenia Space Italy (TAS-I)

ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst enjoys the view of Earth from 

the windows in the Cupola of the International Space Station.

Exterior view of the Cupola and the Node 3/Tranquility 

taken by a crew member during a Extravehicular Activity 

(EVA). Crew members onboard are partially visible in the 

Cupola windows.

At the robotics workstation in the Cupola, NASA astronaut Karen 

Nyberg participates in onboard training activity in preparation for 

the grapple and berthing of a visiting vehicle.

Height 1.5 m (4.7 ft)

Diameter 3 m (9.8 ft)

Mass 1,880 kg (4,136 lb)

Capacity 2 crewmembers with 

portable workstation

Launch date February 8, 2010

STS-130

20A

Window Assembly (1 top and 

6 side windows with fused 

silica and borosilicate glass 

panes, window heaters, and 

thermistors) 

Forged/Machined 

Aluminum Dome 

Payload Data Grapple 

Fixture (PDGF)

en

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NASA astronauts Chris Cassidy and Karen Nyberg along with ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano are shown View of Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) and Soyuz spacecraft. 

amongst cargo bags in the PMM.

PMM

Derived from the Leonardo Multi-purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), the 

Italian-built Permanent Multi-Purpose Module (PMM) is currently berthed to 

the nadir port of Node 1. In the summer of 2015, the PMM will be relocated 

to the Node 3 forward port. The PMM can host up to 16 racks containing 

equipment, experiments, and supplies, and it has additional storage space 

for bags in the aft endcone. 

Permanent Multipurpose 

Module (PMM)

NASA/ASI (Italian Space Agency)

Length 6.67 m (21.7 ft)

Diameter

Exterior

Interior

4.5 m (14.76 ft)

4.21 m (13.81 ft)

Mass 4,428 kg (9,784 lb)

Pressurized volume 76.7 m3

 (2708.6 ft3)

Cargo capability 9,000 kg (20,000 lb)

Pressurized habitable 

volume 31 m3 (1,095 ft3

)

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View of Node 2, Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 (PMA-2) taken during Extravehicular Activity (EVA). ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli and NASA astronaut Ron Garan pause for a photo 

during preparations to open the Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 (PMA-2) hatch.

Three conical docking adapters, called Pressurized Mating Adapters, attach 

to the Nodes’ berthing mechanisms. The other sides of the adapters allow 

for docking vehicles. PMA-1 connects the U.S. and Russian segments 

while PMA-2 and PMA-3 serve as docking ports for future commercial 

crew vehicles. PMA-2 is located on the Node 2 forward port and PMA-3 

is currently located on Node 3 port. In the summer of 2015 PMA-3 will be 

relocated to the Node 2 zenith port. The ISS at that point will have two 

permanent docking ports.

PMA-1, 2 and 3 structures are identical. The PMA structure is a 

truncated conical shell with a 28 inch axial offset in the diameters 

between the end rings.

Pressurized Mating Adapters 

(PMAs)

NASA/Boeing

Length 1.86 m (6.1 ft) 

Width 1.9 m (6.25 ft) at 

wide end, 1.37 m 

(4.5 ft) at narrow end

Mass of

PMA-1

PMA-2

PMA-3

1,589 kg (3,504 lb)

1,376 kg (3,033 lb)

1,183 kg (2,607 lb)

Launch date

PMAs 1 and 2 December 4, 1998

STS-88

ISS-2A

PMA-3 October 11, 2000

STS-92

ISS-3A

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The FGB was the first launched element of the ISS, built in Russia under a 

U.S. contract. During the early stages of ISS assembly, the FGB was selfcontained, providing power, communications, and attitude control functions. 

Now, the FGB module is used primarily for storage and propulsion. The FGB 

was based on the modules of Mir.

Functional Cargo Block (FGB)

Zarya (Sunrise)

NASA/Boeing/Khrunichev State Research and 

Production Space Center 

Length 12,990 m (42.6 ft)

Maximum diameter 4.1 m (13.5 ft)

Mass 24,968 kg (55,045 lb)

Pressurized volume 71.5 m3

 (2,525 ft3)

Solar array span 24.4 m (80 ft)

Array surface area 28 m2

 (301 ft2)

Power supply (avg.) 3 kW

Propellant mass 3,800 kg (8,377 lb)

Launch date November 20, 1998

Proton rocket

1A/R

Androgynous 

Peripheral Docking 

System and Forward 

Axial Docking Port 

Primary 

Propulsion System Propellant

Tanks

Micrometeorite

Protection

Nadir Docking Port

Kurs Rendezvous

Antenna

Thermal Control

Radiator

Attitude Control

Engines

Attitude Control

Engines

Russian cosmonaut Maxim Suraev using the communications system 

in the FGB.

View of the FGB on orbit flanked by the Service Module and PMA-1.

1 Air Ducts

2 Communications Panel

3 Caution and Warning Systems Panel 

4 Contaminant Filters

5 Contingency Transfer (Water) 

Container Bag

6 Contingency Transfer (Water) 

Container Connections

7 Dust Collectors

8 Electrical Outlet 

9 Flex Airduct Container

10 Fuse

11 Fuse Panels (behind close-outs)

12 Gas Analyzer 

13 Gas Mask

14 Handrail

15 Hatch Protection 

16 Instrument Containers

17 Docking Port to PMA

18 Laptop Outlets

19 Lighting Panel

20 Lights 

21 Nadir Docking Port

22 Onboard Documentation

23 Onboard Network Receptacle Outlets

24 Pole and Hook

25 Portable Fans

26 Removable Fire Extinguisher

27 Power Outlet

28 Pressurized Valve Unit

29 Caution and Warning Panel

30 Smoke Detector 

31 TV Outlet

32 Wipes/Filters

17

25

22

30

21

7

1

4

32 19

5

20 1

12

14

24

26

15

13

10

18 23 9

29

23

3

30

31

16

16

11

8

6

2

20 28 27

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Cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko with two Russian Orlan spacesuits in the Pirs Docking Compartment. Progress supply vehicle docked to the Pirs DC-1.

Pirs serves as a docking port for the Russian Segment. Pirs also provides 

the capability for extravehicular activity (EVA) using Russian Orlan spacesuits 

and provides systems for servicing and refurbishing of the spacesuits. 

The nadir Docking System on Pirs provides a port for the docking of Soyuz 

and Progress vehicles. Pirs will be deorbited when the final Russian MultiPurpose Logistic Module arrives.

Docking Compartment (DC)

Pirs (Pier)

Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos)/

S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia 

(RSC Energia)

Length 4.9 m (16 ft) 

Maximum diameter 2.55 m (8.4 ft)

Mass 3,838 kg (8,461 lb)

Volume 13 m3

 (459 ft3) 

Launch date September 15, 2001

Progress M

4R

Attitude Control 

and Wide-Beam 

Antenna

Cover Over Refue

Hydraulic Valves

EVA Hatch 

Nadir Docking System 

and Hatch Port for Soyuz 

or Progress

High-Gain 

Kurs Antenna

Stela Manipulator 

Boom for Moving 

Crew and Cargo

View of the nadir 

end of the DC.

Zenith Docking System 

(male) and Hatch 

Entrance to Service 

Module

Refueling

Hydraulic Valves

Nadir Docking System and 

Hatch Port for Soyuz or 

Progress

EVA Hatch 1

High-Gain Kurs Antenna

Docking System 

Probe

Interior Orlan 

Storage

Pressure and Deposit 

Monitoring Unit

Interior 

Control Console

Wide-Beam 

Antenna

Movable Handrail

EVA Hatch 2

High-Gain

Kurs Antenna

Drain Valve

Attitude Control 

Antenna

Position of Crew While 

Preparing for EVA

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Poisk, also known as the MRM2, is almost identical to the Pirs Docking 

Compartment. Poisk provides the capability for extravehicular activity (EVA) 

and servicing/refurbishing of the Russian Orlan spacesuits.

The zenith docking system on Poisk provides a port for the docking of Soyuz 

and Progress logistics vehicles. Poisk also provides extra space for scientific 

experiments, including power supply outlets and data transmission interfaces 

for five external workstations (one three-port active and four passive) to 

accommodate science payloads for observation of the upper hemisphere 

and for exposure. The module is also equipped with three temporary internal 

workstations near the module’s side windows to observe a local horizon plane 

and to accommodate payloads equipped with vacuum interfaces.

Mini-Research Module 2 (MRM2)

Poisk (Explore)

Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos)/

S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia 

(RSC Energia)

Exterior view of the Mini Research Module 2 (MRM2)/Poisk.

Length 4.9 m (16 ft) 

Maximum diameter 2.55 m (8.4 ft)

Mass 3,795 kg (8,367 lb) 

Volume 14.8 m3

 (523 ft3) 

Launch date November 10, 2009

Progress M

5R

Strela Cargo Boom

EVA Hatch 

Science Hardware

Position of Crew While 

Preparing for EVA

Zenith Docking 

System (male) and 

Hatch Entrance to 

Service Module

Refueling

Hydraulic 

Valves

Nadir Docking System 

and Hatch Port for 

Soyuz or Progress

EVA Hatch 1

High-Gain 

Kurs Antenna

Docking System Probe

Interior Orlan Storage Pressure and Deposit 

Monitoring Unit

Interior 

Control 

Console

Wide-Beam 

Antenna

Movable Handrail

EVA Hatch 2

High-Gain 

Kurs Antenna

Drain Valve

Attitude Control 

Antenna

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Airlock, radia

and PWP will 

stored on MR

until MLM do

(Currently pla

for 2017.)

Spare Elbow unit for European 

Robotic Arm (ERA) will stay stored on 

MRM1 until it is needed, if ever; ERA 

flight unit will launch on MLM.

Portable Work Platform 

(PWP) provides EVA 

worksite on MLM for ERA 

activation, checkout, and 

nominal ops.

MLM Airlock

for payloads. MLM 

Radiator

View of the Rassvet Mini-Research Module 1 (MRM1) as it is mated with the Zarya 

Functional Cargo Block (FGB) nadir docking port. 

Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka uses the Russian Tekh-38 VETEROK (“Breeze”) science 

hardware to take aero-ionic concentration measurements in the Rassvet Mini-Research Module 

1 (MRM1).

Rassvet, also known as the MRM1, is primarily used for cargo storage; 

being equipped with eight internal workstations. It serves as a mini-research 

laboratory for biological and biotechnological investigations, as well as for 

experiments in material sciences and fluid physics. The nadir docking system 

on Rassvet provides the fourth docking port on the Russian segment for 

the docking of Soyuz and Progress logistics vehicles. It was built from the 

pressurized hull of the Science Power Platform (SPP) dynamic test article. 

Moreover, the exterior of Rassvet carries a spare elbow joint for the European 

Robotic Arm (ERA) and outfitting equipment for the Russian Multi-Purpose 

Laboratory Module (MLM), including a radiator, an airlock for payloads, and a 

Portable Work Post (PWP) that provides an EVA worksite for ERA activation, 

checkout, and nominal operations.

Mini-Research Module 1 (MRM1)

Rassvet (Dawn)

Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos)/

S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia 

(RSC Energia)

Length 6.0 m (19.7 ft)

Maximum diameter 2.35 m (7.7 ft)

Mass 5,075 kg (11,188 lb)

Volume 17.4 m3

 (614 ft3)

Launch date May 2010

STS-132

ULF4

Attitude control 32 engines

Orbital maneuvering 2 engines

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The Service Module was the first fully Russian contribution, providing 

early living quarters, life-support system, electrical power distribution, 

data processing system, flight control system, and propulsion system. Its 

communications system still enables remote command capabilities from 

ground flight controllers. Although some of these systems were subsequently 

supplemented by U.S. systems, the Service Module remains the structural 

and functional center of the Russian segment of the ISS. The Service Module 

was intended primarily to support crew habitation but became the first 

multipurpose research laboratory on the ISS.

Service Module (SM)

Zvezda (Star)

Roscosmos/S.P. Korolev Rocket and 

Space Corporation Energia (RSC Energia)

View of Cosmonaut Alexander Samokutyaev during 

Remote Teleoperator Control Mode Training, in the 

Service Module (SM). 

View of the Nadir side of Zvezda Service module.

Length 13.1 m (43 ft) 

Diameter 4.2 m (13.5 ft)

Wingspan 29.7 m (97.5 ft) 

Weight 24,604 kg (54,242 lb)

Launch date July 12, 2000

Proton

1R

Attitude control 32 engines

Orbital maneuvering 2 engines

Forward FGB 

Docking Port

Luch 

Satellite

Antenna

Zenith Docking Port

Kurs Rendezvous

Antenna

Maneuvering 

Reboost Engines 

(2,300 kgf each)

Kurs 

Rendezvous

Antenna

Attitude Control Engines 

(6 clusters, 32 engines, 

14 kgf each)

14

4

15

22

24

23

10

29

27

1

3 7

19

6 5

26 20

9

18

13

16

17

12

21

5

25

28

8

11

2 1 Airflow Vent

2 Body Mass Measurement Device 

3 Camera

4 Caution and Warning Panel, Clock, 

and Monitors

5 Communications Panel 

6 Condensate Water Processor

7 Crew Sleep Compartment

8 Forward Docking Port (to FGB)

9 Fuses

10 Galley Table 

11 Integrated Control Panel 

12 Lighting Control Panels 

13 Maintenance Box 

14 Nadir Docking Port 

15 Navigation Sighting Station 

16 Night-Lights 

17 Power Distribution Panel 

18 Recessed Cavity & Valve Panel

19 Smoke Detector 

20 Solid Fuel Oxygen Generators (SFOG)

21 Toru Rendezvous Control Station 

22 Toru Seat

23 Treadmill & Vibration Isolation System

24 Vela Ergometer

25 Ventilation Screen

26 Vozdukh Control Panel

27 Waste Management Compartment

28 Zenith Docking Port

29 Soyuz and Progress Docking Port

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Habitation

Node 3

Node 1

Quest

Airlock

Progress Service Module FGB Destiny Node 2

JEM

Columbus

NASA Astronauts Rick Mastracchio 

and Mike Hopkins in the airlock 

(A/L). Extravehicular Mobility Units 

(EMUs) are visible.

Stowed food trays in FGB.

JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukaw, NASA astronaut Mike Fossum 

and Russian cosmonaut Sergei Volkov prepare for a meal in the 

Service Module galley.

Interior view of the Node 1 

module

Dinner in Node 1 with Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kotov, 

NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins and JAXA astronaut 

Koichi Wakata.

The habitable elements of the ISS are mainly a series of cylindrical modules. 

Accommodations—including the waste management compartment and toilet, the 

galley, individual crew sleep compartments, and some of the exercise facilities—

are located in the Service Module (SM), Node 1, Node 2, Node 3, and the 

U.S. Laboratory. 

Toilet Compartment in 

the Service Module (SM) 

/ Zvezda. 

SM transfer compartment.

ESA astronaut Samantha 

Cristoforetti exercises on the 

Cycle Ergometer with Vibration 

Isolation and Stabilization (CEVIS) 

in the Destiny Laboratory.

ESA astronaut Luca 

Parmitano exercises on the 

Combined Operational Load 

Bearing External Resistance 

Treadmill (COLBERT).

NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy gets 

a workout on the advanced Resistive 

Exercise Device (aRED) in Node 3.

Waste and Hygiene Compartment 

(WHC) in the Node 3.

NASA astronaut Susan J. 

Helms looks out the U.S. Lab 

Window.

NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg 

is photographed in her Crew 

Quarters during her off-duty 

time.

Russian cosmonaut Alexander 

Skvortsov pictured in his crew 

quarters compartment.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams vacuuming out crew quarters in 

the Node 2/Harmony.

Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin trims the hair of JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata 

inside the Unity node.

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Methane

Perspiration

CO2

O2

H2

H2O

H2

O

H2

O H2O

H2

O

CO2

Reduction

System

OGA

WPA

UPA WHC

LiOH

CDRA

CCAA

Node 1

Node 3

FGB Destiny Node 2

JEM

Columbus

Quest

Airlock

Service Module

Earth’s natural life support system provides the air we breathe, the water 

we drink, and other conditions that support life. For people to live in space, 

however, these functions must be performed by artificial means. The 

ECLSS includes compact and powerful systems that provide the crew with a 

comfortable environment in which to live and work.

The on-orbit ECLSS is 

supplemented by an 

assortment of resupply 

vehicles provided by the 

international partnership and 

U.S. Commercial Resupply 

System (CRS) vehicles. 

Water can be resupplied via 

Iodine Compatible Water 

Containers (ICWCS) on 

SpaceX’s Dragon, Orbital’s 

Cygnus, or JAXA’s H-II 

Transfer Vehicle (HTV). 

High pressure oxygen and 

nitrogen can be resupplied 

by these same vehicles 

via the Nitrogen/Oxygen 

Recharge System (NORS). 

The Russian Progress 

also delvers water and 

atmospheric gas.

Lithium Hydroxide 

(LiOH) cartridge used for 

eliminating CO2 from air, 

backup system.

Environmental Control and 

Life Support System (ECLSS)

1 Catalytic Reactor

2 Deionizer Beds

3 Digital Controller

4 Distillation 

Assembly

5 Electrolysis Cell 

Stack

6 Gas Separator

7 Multifiltration 

Beds

8 Particulate Filter

9 Power Supply 

10 Product Water 

Tank 

11 Pumps & Valves

12 Reactor Health 

Sensor

13 Storage Tanks 

14 Urine Processor 

Pumps

15 CO2 Reduction 

System (Sabatier)

16 Water Processor 

Delivery Pump

17 Water Processor 

Pump & 

Separator

18 Water Processor 

Wastewater Tank

Water Recovery 

System Rack 1 (WRS-1)

Water Recovery 

System Rack 2 (WRS-2)

Oxygen Generation 

System (OGS) Rack

 = Oxygen = Hydrogen

(vented overboard) = Potable Water

 = Process Water = Urine = Brine = Humidity

Condensate

U.S. Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS)

Elektron produces 

oxygen from water 

through electrolysis; 

vents hydrogen out of 

the station.

Solid Fuel Oxygen Generator 

(SFOG), burns candles to 

produce oxygen as a backup 

system.

Russian EDVs used to store 

and transport water.

Fans and filters circulate air 

and filter out contaminants.

Common Cabin Air Assembly 

(CCAA) condenses water 

vapor from air.

Waste Hygiene Compartment 

(WHC) collects urine and 

waste for processing.

Airflow ventilation fan.

Carbon Dioxide Removal 

Assembly (CDRA) adsorbs 

carbon dioxide from crew.

Astronauts share a meal 

at a galley.

3

4

 8

 12 6

16

 10

 14

 14

 13

 17

 18

 7

 15

 2

 11

3

 5 9

 1

Vozdukh absorbs carbon dioxide 

from crew.

The Russian Condensate Water 

Processor is known as the SRV-K, 

equivalent to the US WPA, processes 

the condensate that is reclaimed by 

the SKV.

ECLSS on the ISS provides the following functions:

• Recycles wastewater (including urine) to

produce drinking (potable) water and technical

water (for flush and oxygen generation)

• Stores and distributes potable water

• Uses recycled water to produce oxygen for the

crew

• Removes carbon dioxide from the cabin air

• Filters the cabin air for particulates and

microorganisms

• Removes volatile organic trace gases from the

cabin air

• Monitors and controls cabin air partial pressures

of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane,

hydrogen, and water vapor

• Maintains total cabin pressure

• Detects and suppresses fire

• Maintains cabin temperature

and humidity levels

• Distributes cabin air between

ISS modules (ventilation)

The U.S. Regenerative Environmental Control and 

Life Support System takes steps toward closing 

the water cycle; it takes humidity condensate from 

the cabin air and urine from the crew and converts 

these into drinking water, oxygen for breathing, 

and hydrogen which combines with CO2

 scrubbed 

from the cabin air to make more water.

Acroymns

WPA Water Processor Assembly

UPA Urine Processor Assembly

OGA Oxygen Generation Assembly.

44 ELEMENTS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

Temp. & 

Humidity 

Control

Waste 

Mgmt.

CO2

Removal

Trace 

Contaminant 

Control 

Subassembly

Oxygen 

Generation

O2/N2

Control

Urine

Recovery

Potable 

Water 

Processing

Waste Products

Urine

Processed 

Urine

Condensate

Product Water

Water

N2

O2

Air

Air Return

Cabin Air Cabin Return

Product Water

CO2

H2

CO2

Reduction

Crew System

Potable Water System Hand Wash/

Shaving

Air

Regenerative environmental 

control life support in the U.S. 

segment of the ISS.

Wastewater

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Node 3

Node 1 Service Module FGB Destiny Node 2

JEM

Columbus

Quest

Airlock

The Crew Health Care System (CHeCS) is a suite of hardware on the ISS that provides the medical 

and environmental monitoring capabilities necessary to ensure the health and safety of crewmembers 

during long-duration missions. CHeCS is divided into four subsystems: 

Countermeasures System (CMS)—The CMS provides the equipment and protocols for the 

performance of daily exercise to mitigate the deconditioning effects of living in a microgravity 

environment. The CMS hardware provides aerobic conditioning, interval and resistive training, and 

also works to preserve aerobic and anaerobic capacity, and muscular strength and endurance. 

Environmental Health 

System (EHS)—The EHS 

monitors the atmosphere for 

gaseous contaminants (i.e., 

from nonmetallic materials offgassing, combustion products, 

and propellants), and microbial 

contamination levels from 

crewmembers and station 

activities. The EHS also monitors 

water quality and acoustics. 

Health Maintenance System 

(HMS)—The HMS provides inflight life support and resuscitation, 

medical care to respond to crew 

illness and injury, preventative 

health care, and crew health 

monitoring capabilities.

The Radiation System – 

The Radiation System 

characterizes the complex, multicomponent radiation environment 

to which the crew is exposed, 

and records the crewmembers’ 

cumulative exposures. The ionizing 

radiation environment encountered 

by ISS consists of a mixture of 

primary and secondary radiation 

types:

• Primary radiation varies as a

function of ISS altitude and

consists mostly of trapped

protons, electrons, galactic

cosmic radiation and solar flux.

• Secondary radiation products are

produced by collisions of primary

radiation with the ISS and its

hardware inside, as well as inside

the crewmembers’ bodies.

NASA astronaut 

Mike Fincke uses 

Cycle Ergometer with 

Vibration Isolation 

System (CEVIS).

JAXA astronaut Koichi 

Wakata with TOCA for 

water sampling session.

NASA astronaut Steve Swanson with Sound Level 

Meter (SLM) to take noise level measurements. 

JAXA astronaut Koichi 

Wakata exercises on the 

ARED.

Russian cosmonaut lena Serova RS 41FE with Microbial Air 

Sampler (MAS) for the Microbial Sampling investigation.

Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko and NASA astronaut Michael Barratt perform a 

detailed checkout and inspection of the HMS CMRS (Health Maintenance System/Crew 

Medical Restraint System) in the U.S. Lab. The boardlike CMRS allows strapping down a 

patient on the board with a harness for medical attention by the CMO who is also provided 

with restraints around the device.

NASA astronaut Karen 

Nyberg performs an 

Ocular Health (OH) 

Fundoscope Exam.

ESA astronaut Frank De Winne taking water samples.

Crew Health Care System 

(CHeCS) 

Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

Russian cosmonaut 

Oleg Kotov exercises on 

the BD-2 (Begushaya 

Dorozhka which is a 

Russian term for a 

treadmill).

NASA astronaut Bill Shepherd 

exercises on the Velo 

Ergometer Bike.

NASA astronaut Reid 

Wiseman exercises on the 

Combined Operational Load 

Bearing External Resistance 

Treadmill (COLBERT).

ESA astronaut Andre Kuipers with Acoustic 

Dosimeter. 

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano 

with Colorimetric Water 

Quality Monitoring Kit (CWQMK).

SSK sample in the 

Waste Hygiene 

Compartment 

(WHC).

Close-up view of 

a Surface Sample 

Kit (SSK) surface 

slide.

Canadian astronaut Robert 

Thirsk uses the Surface Sample 

Kit (SSK) to collect and incubate 

microbiology samples.

 IV- Tissue Equivalent Proportional 

Counter (IV-TEPC).

Radiation Area Monitor 

(RAM)(Dosimeter).

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Node 3

Progress Service Module FGB Node 1 Destiny Node 2

JEM

Columbus

The system for storing and transferring information essential to operating the ISS 

has been functioning at all stages of assembly and provides control from various 

segments of the ISS. The Enhanced Processor and Integrated Communications 

upgrade in some of the Multiplexer/Demultiplexers (MDMs) has vastly improved 

the processing and memory margins; in addition to adding a new Ethernet 

interface. The Portable Computer System laptops provide the crew interface for 

commanding and monitoring the ISS Core Systems hardware and associated 

software.

Computers and Data 

Management

Laptop (in SM crew quarters).

Russian Segment Workstations. 

Laptop and TVIS Control (located near galley). TORU Remote Progress Docking Workstation.

Maneuvering Truss Segments into Place at 

SSRMS Workstation.

Multiplexer/Demultiplexer (computer).

Multiplexer/Demultiplexer with Solid 

State Mass Memory Unit (SSMMU) 

and Processor cards in US lab.

Human Research Facility Workstation.

Att Plds

Att Plds

DPU-3

DPU-2

PVCU-4B

SMCC-3

APM

RWS CEU-2

CSA 

RWS CEU-1

EXT-2

MDM

EXT-1

MDM

N1-1

MDM

N1-2

FGB-2

MDM

FGB-1

SMCC-2

Serv Mod

CC-1

GN&C-2

MDM

GN&C-1

CB CTBIA23

CB INT-1

CB CT-4 CB CT-3 CB CT-2 CB CT-1

CB INT-2

CB GNC-2/Bus 8 CB GNC-1/Bus 7 CB EXT-2 CB EXT-1

UB ORB-N1-1/Bus 13

LB ORB-HAB-1 LB ORB-N2-2 LB ORB-N2-1

UB ORB-N1-2/Bus 18

LB ORB-HAB-2

CB CTBIA23

CB INT-1

CB CT-4 CB CT-3 CB CT-2 CB CT-1

CB INT-2

CB GNC-2 CB GNC-1 CB EXT-2 CB EXT-1

PL-2

MDM

PL-1 JEM

PMCU-2

MDM

PMCU-1

INT-2

MDM

INT-1

LB SYSFLY-1 LB SYSFLY-2

LB SEPS-N3-23 LB SEPS-N3-14 LB SEPS-HCZ-23 LB SEPS-HCZ-14

LB SYS-HCZ-1 LB SYS-HCZ-2

LB SYS-N3-2 LB SYS-N3-1

MSS LB MSS PDGF LB

MSS BUD LB-B MSS BUD LB-A HC LB 2 HC LB 1

BCU LB 1 BCU LB 2

System 1553

Vital 1553

Payload 1553 LB CHECS-APM

SYS-LB-2 SYS-LB-1

PL-BUS 1A PL-BUS 1B PL-BUS 2 PL-BUS 3 PL-BUS 4 ESA PL BUS NASDA PL BUS E

1

NASDA

PL PCR

LB SEPS-N2-14 LB SEPS-N2-23

LB SYS-HAB-1 LB SYS-HAB-2

LB SEPS-HAB-23 LB SEPS-HAB-14

LB SYS-N2-1 LB SYS-N2-2

LB SYS-LAB-1 LB SYS-LAB-2

UB EPS-N1-14 UB EPS-N1-23

LB SYS-LAB-1 LB SYS-LAB-2

Bus 11 (FGB Local)

Bus 3 (SM C&C) Bus 4 (SM C&C) Bus 5 (TM/TC) Bus 6 (TM/TC)

Bus 14 (ERA) Bus 15 (UDM-1) Bus 16 (UDM-2)

GNCTC-3

GNCTC-2

SM

GNCTC-1

Bus 9 (SM Local) Bus 10 (SM Local)

LB GNC-1 LB GNC-2 LB GNC-3 LB GNC-4

CMG 1 Rate Gyro 1 SIGI 1 ST scarCMG 2 Rate Gyro 2 SIGI 2 ST scarCMG 3 CMG 4

LB MT-1 LB MECH-P-1 LB MECH-P-2 LB MECH-S-1

LB SYS-P-1 LB SYS-P-2 LB SYS-S-1 LB SYS-S-2

LB MECH-S-2

PYLD MDM PCRs

LB PL-2 LB PL-1

LB PL-3 LB PL-4 LB PL-APM LB PL-JEM

LB CHECS-APM LB CHECS-HAB LB CHECS-JEM

LB CHECS-SM/

Bus 12 CHeCS Ports

MDM

AL-1

LB EPS-CAM-14 LB EPS-CAM-23 LB EPS-N2-14 LB EPS-N2-23 LB EPS-HAB-14 LB EPS-HAB-23

LB PMCU-1 LB PMCU-2 LB PMCU-3 LB PMCU-4

MDM

PVCU-2B

UB PVB 24-1 UB PVB 24-2

P6

PVCU-4A

MDM

PVCU-2A

UB PVA 24-1 UB PVA 24-2

P4

PVCU-3A

MDM

PVCU-1A

UB PVA 13-1 UB PVA 13-2

S4

PVCU-3B

MDM

PVCU-1B

UB PVB 13-1 UB PVB 13-2

S6

P3-2

MDM

P3-1

UB SEPS-P3-14 UB SEPS-P3-23

MDM

PTR

UB PTR

P1-2

MDM

P1-1

UB SEPS-P1-14 UB SEPS-P1-23

S0-2

MDM

S0-1

UB SEPS-S0-14 UB SEPS-S0-23

S1-2

MDM

S1-1

UB SEPS-S1-14 UB SEPS-S1-23

MDM

STR

UB STR

S3-2

MDM

S3-1

UB SEPS-S3-23

1

2

Notes:

Flight Effectivity - Post Assembly Complete:

A. Visiting Vehicles:

 - ATV / HTV / Dragon / Cygnus Flights

B. ODAR

C. Attached Payloads & External Logistic Carriers

D. Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM)

UB SEPS-S3-14

ATV

DPU-1

P3 PTR P1 S0 S1 STR S3

ASN

1

Node 1 MDM is CB GNC-1/2 and LB SYS-LAB-1/2 bus controller in Mighty Mouse Scenario

Bus 1 / LB RS-1 Bus 2 / LB RS-2

SpaceX

CUCU

Visiting Vehicles:

- HTV

- Dragon

- Cygnus

V-V ORU-2

Visit Veh

ORU-1

The Payload Attachment System (PAS) sites, located on the S3 / P3 integrated truss 

assemblies, are provided for externally attached payloads. MIL-STD-1553 command, 

control, and telemetry connectivity to these sites is provided by LB PL-1 and LB PL-2. 

The External Logistic Carriers (ELC), the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) payload,

and the Orbital Sciences Visiting Vehicle, etc. may be attached to these sites. 

2

1

PROX-OPS-2

JAXA

PROX-OPS-1

HCZ-2

MDM

HCZ-1

N3-2

MDM

N3-1

Att Plds

1 1 1 1 2 1

4 2 5 6

Attached 

Payloads

Att Plds

Attached 

Payloads

N2-2

MDM

N2-1

LA-3

LA-2

MDM

LA-1

UB LA-3

S3 PAS SITES P3 PAS SITES

2

MDM

PMM

Data bus architecture consists of

- 105+ MIL-STD-1553 Data 

buses

- 60+ computers (48 MDMs) 

into which software can be 

as necessary

- 650+ RTs plus IP RTs on 

buses

- 190 payload remote 

terminals (RTs)

- 600+ International 

partners (IPs) and firmware 

controller devices

- 90 Unique types of remote 

devices

Primary Command Workstation in SM. Crew uses Progress Remote Control workstation in SM.

SSRMS Control and Robotics Workstations.

Multiplexer/Demultiplexers (mounted externally on the truss).

Quest

Airlock

46 ELEMENTS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

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ELEMENTS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 

The EMU provides a crewmember with life support and an enclosure that 

enables an EVA (Extravehicular Activity). The unit consists of two major 

subsystems: the Primary Life Support Subsystem (PLSS) and the Space 

Suit Assembly (SSA). The EMU provides atmospheric containment, thermal 

insulation, cooling, solar radiation protection, and micrometeoroid/orbital 

debris (MMOD) protection. 

Extravehicular Mobility Unit 

(EMU)

NASA/Hamilton Sundstrand/ILC Dover

NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy participates in a session of 

extravehicular activity (EVA). During the six-hour, seven-minute 

spacewalk, Cassidy was preparing the space station for a new 

Russian module and performed additional installations on the 

station’s backbone.

The Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue (SAFER) provides 

a compressed nitrogen-powered backpack that 

permits a crewmember to maneuver independently 

of the ISS. Its principal use is that it allows a 

crewmember to maneuver back to the station if he 

or she becomes detached from the ISS.

1. Thermal Micrometeoroid Garment (TMG). 

Cover: Ortho/KEVLAR® reinforced with 

GORE-TEX®.

2. TMG Insulation. Five to seven layers of 

aluminized Mylar® (more layers on arms and 

legs).

3. TMG liner. Neoprene-coated nylon ripstop.

4. Pressure garment cover. Restraint: Dacron®.

5. Pressure garment bladder. Urethane-coated 

nylon oxford fabric.

6. Liquid cooling garment. Neoprene tubing.

Suit 

Layers 6

5

4

3

2

1

TV Camera

Space Suit 

Assembly 

(SSA)

Oxygen Control

Actuator

Display and 

Control Console

Communications Carrier

Connection for 

Service and 

Cooling Umbilical

Colored

ID Stripe

Liquid Cooling 

and Ventilation 

Garment

Temperature

Control Valve

Light

Secondary

O2

 System

Primary

O2

 Tanks

Water Tank

Antenna

Radio

Caution 

and Warning

Computer

Sublimator

Contaminant

Control 

Cartridge

Primary Life Support

System (PLSS)

Suit’s nominal pressure 0.3 atm (4.3 psi)

Atmosphere 100% oxygen

Primary oxygen tank 

pressure

900 psi

Secondary oxygen tank 

pressure

6,000 psi (30-min backup 

supply)

Maximum EVA duration 8 h

 Mass of entire EMU 143 kg (315 lb)

 Suit life 25 EVA’s or 6 years prior to 

returning to Earth

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48 ELEMENTS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin, attired in a Russian Orlan spacesuit (blue 

stripes),participates in a session of extravehicular activity (EVA) to continue outfitting the 

International Space Station.

The Orlan-MK spacesuit is designed to protect an EVA (Extravehicular Activity) 

crewmember from the vacuum of space, ionizing radiation, solar energy, and 

micrometeoroids. The main body and helmet of the suit are integrated and 

are constructed of aluminum alloy. Arms and legs are made of a flexible fabric 

material. Crewmembers enter from the rear via the backpack door, which allows 

rapid entry and exit without assistance. The Orlan-MK spacesuit is a “one-sizefits-most” suit. 

Orlan Spacesuit

Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos)/

Science Production Enterprise Zvezda

Suit’s nominal pressure 0.4 atm (5.8 psi)

Atmosphere 100% oxygen

Maximum EVA duration 7 h

Mass of entire EMU 108 kg (238 lb)

Suit life 15 EVAs or 4 years withou

return to Earth

Helmet 

Lights (2)

Suit Pressure

Gauge

O2

 Control Panel Emergency

O2

 Hose

Electrical

Umbilical

Safety

Tethers (2)

Fluid Umbilical

Connector

Communications Cap

Display and 

Control Panel

Liquid Cooling Garment

O2

 Regulator

Primary O2 Bottle

Backpack

Reserve O2

Bottle

Water Bag

Lithium 

Hydroxide 

Cartridge

CO2

 Sensor Filter

 Water Filter

Moisture Collector

Separator

Radio 

Telemetry 

Apparatus 

Battery

Colored ID Stripe

Red—Commander

Blue—Flight Engineer

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ELEMENTS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 

Mobile Servicing System (MSS)

Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS/

Canadarm2) 

Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM/Dextre) 

Mobile Base System (MBS)

Canadian Space Agency (CSA)

Three components of MSS

The Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS), 

known as Canadarm2, is a 56-foot- long robotic arm 

that assembled the ISS module by module in space. 

It is regularly used to move supplies, equipment, and 

even astronauts, and captures free-flying spacecraft to 

berth them to the ISS.

The Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM), also known 

as Dextre, performs routine maintenance on the ISS. Equipped 

with lights, video equipment, a tool platform, and four tool holders, 

Dextre’s dual-arm design and precise handling capabilities 

reduces the need for spacewalks.

The Mobile Base System (MBS) provides a movable work platform 

and storage facility for astronauts during spacewalks. With four 

grapple fixtures, it can serve as a base for both the 

Canadarm2 and the Special Purpose Dexterous 

Manipulator (SPDM) simultaneously. 

Pitch Joint

Roll Joint Yaw Joi

Latching End

Effector B

Video 

Distribu

Unit (VD

Arm Contr

Unit (ACU)

Canadian Remote Power 

Controller Module (CRPCM)

Camera, Light, and 

Pan and Tilt Unit

Camera, Light, and 

Pan and Tilt Unit

MBS Capture Latch

Power Data Grapple Fixture (PDGF)

Camera and Light Assembly

Payload and Orbital Replacement Unit 

(ORU) Accommodation

Yaw Joint

Pitch Joint

SSRMS MBS SPDM

Length/

height

17.6 m 

(57 ft)

3.5 m (11.4 

ft)

Maximum 

diameter 

.36 m 

(1.2 ft)

.88 m 

(2.9 ft)

Dimensions 5.7 × 4.5 × 

2.9 m

(18.5 × 14.6 × 

9.4 ft)

Mass 1,497 kg 

(3,300 lb)

1,450 kg

(3,196 lb)

1,662 kg

(3,664 lb)

Degrees 

of freedom

7

The Mobile Servicing System (MSS) is a sophisticated robotics suite that 

plays a critical role in the assembly, maintenance, and resupply of the ISS. 

The MSS Operations Complex in Saint Hubert, Quebec, is the ground base 

for the MSS, which is composed of three robots that can work together or 

independently. The MSS was built for the CSA by MacDonald, Dettwiler and 

Associates Ltd. (MDA).

Backdropped by Earth’s horizon and the 

blackness of space, the Canadian-built Dextr

also known as the Special Purpose Dextrous 

Manipulator (SPDM), is featured in this imag

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50 ELEMENTS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

The EPS generates, stores, and distributes power and converts and 

distributes secondary power to users.

Electrical Power System 

(EPS)

Each Solar Array Wing (SAW) has 2 blankets 

of 32,800 solar cells, converting sunlight 

to DC power and producing a maximum 

of 31 kW at the beginning of its life and 

degrading to 26 kW after 15 years. Each cell 

is approximately 14% efficient, which was 

state-of-the-art at the time of design.

Nickel-Hydrogen Batteries store electrical 

energy that is harvested by the SAWs. 

Starting in 2017, the Nickel-Hydrogen 

battery ORUs will be replaced by 

Lithium-ion batteries. Due to the 

higher level of specific energy, 

one Lithium-Ion battery 

ORU will take the place of 

two Nickel-Hydrogen 

batteries.

Photovoltaic Radiator circulates 

cooling fluid to maintain EPS/

battery temperature.

The Battery Charge Discharge 

Unit (BCDU) controls each 

battery’s charge.

Primary Electric 

Power (160 V DC).

Sequential Shunt 

Unit (SSU) maintains 

constant voltage at 

160 V.

Electronics Control Unit (ECU) 

controls pointing of solar 

arrays.

Integrated Equipment 

Assembly (IEA) Truss 

houses EPS hardware.

Beta Gimbals are used 

for tracking the seasonal 

changes of the Sun.

Sunlight

Solar (Array) Alpha Rotation Joint 

(SARJ) tracks the Sun throughout 

Earth orbit.

Remote Power 

Controllers (RPCs) 

control the flow of 

electric power to 

users.

Power coming in from 

arrays and batteries

Main Bus Switching Units (MBSUs) 

route power to proper locations in 

the ISS.

U.S. Laboratory

NASA astronaut Scott Parazynski, anchored to the 

Articulating Portable Foot Restraint (APFR) on the Orbiter 

Boom Sensor System (OBSS), assesses repair work on 

the P6 4B Solar Array Wing (SAW) as the array is deployed 

during an extravehicular activity (EVA).

Two astronauts changing out a Battery ORU.

DC-to-DC Converter Units (DDCUs) convert 

primary 160 V power to secondary 124 V 

power. Some are located on the truss and 

some are located in modules.

Direct Current (DC) Switching Unit (DCSU) 

routes power from the solar array to the MBSUs 

in the S0 Truss that control power to different 

ISS locations.

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ELEMENTS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 

The ISS is a large, free-flying vehicle. The attitude or orientation of the ISS 

with respect to Earth and the Sun must be controlled; this is important 

for maintaining thermal, power, and microgravity levels, as well as for 

communications.

The ISS GN&C hardware consists of GPS receivers and antennas, rate gyro 

sensors, control moment gyros on the U.S. segment, and thrusters, star 

trackers, GPS receivers, and rate gyros on the Russian segment. The GPS 

receivers provide information about the location of the ISS, and the rate gyros 

provide information about the change in orientation of the ISS. Both U.S. 

and Russian segment GN&C systems have extensive software to be able to 

determine and control the ISS orientation. The GN&C system tracks the Sun, 

communications and navigation satellites, and ground stations. Solar arrays, 

thermal radiators, and communications antennas aboard the ISS are pointed 

using information from the GN&C system.

The preferred method of attitude control is the use of Control Moment 

Gyroscopes (CMGs), sometimes called gyrodynes in other programs, 

mounted on the Z1 Truss segment. Each CMG has 98-kilogram (220-pound) 

flywheel that spins at 6,600 revolutions per minute (rpm). The high-rotational 

velocity and large mass of the flywheel allow a considerable amount of 

angular momentum to be stored. Each CMG has gimbals such that the 

flywheels can be repositioned. As the flywheel is repositioned, the resulting 

force orients the ISS. Using multiple CMGs permits the ISS to be moved to 

new attitudes or permits the attitude to be held constant. The advantages of 

this system are that it relies on electrical power generated by the solar arrays 

and that it provides smooth, continuously variable attitude control. CMGs 

are; however, limited in the amount of angular momentum they can provide 

and the rate at which they can move the station. When CMGs can no longer 

provide the requisite energy, Russian segment thrusters are used.

Guidance, Navigation, and 

Control (GN&C)

GPS Antenna 

Assemblies 

on ITS S0 

STS 110 – April 2002

Control Moment Gyros on Rate Gyros on S0 Truss Z1 Truss 

 ISS GNC System 

Russian Segment (RS) has 

thrusters, star trackers, GPS 

receivers, and rate gyros 

GPS receivers in US Lab 

 - Aft End Cone 

 - Avionics Rack 3 

GNC Computers in US Lab 

 - Aft End Cone 

 - Forward End Cone 

Control Moment Gyroscope gimbals used for 

orienting the ISS.

HCMG 2

HCMG 1

HCMG 3

HCMG 1

HCMG 2

HCMG 3

HCMG 4

HNET

HNET 1

HNET 2

HNET 3

HNET 4

GPS antenna on S0 Truss.

GPS 

Antennas

Forces are induced as CMGs are repositioned.

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52 ELEMENTS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

Radiators

Radiators

Radiator

Radiator

Thermal Control System 

(TCS)

External Ammonia Coolant Loops remove heat through radiators 

(2.6–6.1 °C, 36–43 °F).

Moderate Temperature Water Coolant Loops (12.6–17 °C, 55–63 °F).

Low Temperature Water Coolant Loops (4–10 °C, 39–50 °F).

Russian internal coolant is Triol Fluid.

Russian external coolant is Polymethyl Siloxane.

Japanese external coolant is Flourinert FC72.

The TCS maintains ISS temperatures within defined limits. The four 

components used in the Passive Thermal Control System (PTCS) are 

insulation, surface coatings, heaters, and heat pipes.

The Active Thermal Control System services point source heat loads such as 

electrical equipment on cold plates as well as providing heat rejection for the 

crew cabin using pumps to move heat rejection fluids through the vehicle. 

The water-based internal cooling loops are used in controlling humidity and 

removing heat loads generated by the crew and electronic equipment. This 

heat is transferred to interface heat exchangers located on the exterior of the 

vehicle. The interface heat exchangers flow water on one side, and transfer 

the heat to anhydrous ammonia flowing on the other side. The warmed 

ammonia rejects heat to space from the six large Heat Rejection Subsystem 

(HRS) radiators. There is a single independent PhotoVoltaic Thermal Control 

System (PVTCS) radiator for each of the four pairs of solar array wings that 

use pumps and anhydrous ammonia to reject heat from the power generating 

equipment. In the Japanese Exposed Facility (JEF) a fluid commonly used in 

electronics 3M Flourinert FC72 is used to cool its external payloads.

International Space Station with all radiators deployed.

Heat Rejection 

Subsytem (HRS 

Radiators

PVTCS Radiators

NP-2015-05-022-JSC ISS Utilization Guide 2015-UPDATED.indd 52 8/25/15 1
Integrated Truss Assembly

1 Solar Array Alpha Rotary Joint

2 Ammonia Tank Assembly

3 Assembly Contingency 

Baseband Signal Processor

4 Batteries

5 Battery Charge Discharge Unit

6 Beta Gimbal Assemblies

7 Cable Trays

8 Charged Particle Directional Spectrometer

9 Direct Current Switching Unit (DCSU)

10 DC-to-DC Converter Unit (DDCU)

11 Deployed Thermal System Radiator

12 Grapple Fixture

13 Inboard Lower Camera

14 Main Bus Switching Units

15 Mast Storage Canister

16 Mobile Transporter Rails

17 Multiplexer/De-Multiplexers

18 Nitrogen Tank Assembly (interior to truss)

19 Outboard Lower Camera

20 Photovoltaic Radiator

21 Pump Flow Control Assembly

22 Pump Flow Control Subassembly

23 Pump Module

24 PVR Controller Unit

25 PVR Grapple Fixture Bar

26 Radiator Beam Valve Module

27 Remote Power Control Modules

28 Rotary Joint Motor Controller

29 S-Band Antenna

30 Solar Array Alpha Rotary Joint Drive 

Lock Assembly

31 Solar Array Wing

32 Stowed Photovoltaic Radiator

33 Struts

34 Thermal Control System Radiator Beam

35 Thermal Radiator Rotary Joint with Flex Hose 

Rotary Coupler

36 Transponder

37 Trunnion

38 UHF Antenna

39 Umbilical Mechanism Assemblies

40 Umbilicals

41 Unpressurized Cargo Carrier Attachment

42 Wireless Video System Antenna

S6

S5

S4

S3

S1

S0

P1

P3

P4

P5

P6

U.S. Laboratory

Destiny

The truss assemblies provide attachment points for the solar arrays, thermal control 

radiators, and external payloads. Truss assemblies also contain electrical and cooling 

utility lines, as well as the mobile transporter rails. The Integrated Truss Structure (ITS) 

is made up of 11 segments plus a separate component called Z1. These segments, 

which are shown in the figure, will be installed on the station so that they extend 

symmetrically from the center of the ISS.

At full assembly, the truss reaches 108.5 meters (356 feet) in length across the 

extended solar arrays. ITS segments are labeled in accordance with their location. 

P stands for “port,” S stands for “starboard,” and Z stands for “Zenith.”

Flyaround view of the forward (FWD) and starboard (STBD) sides of the International Space 

Station (ISS), taken aboard Atlantis after undocking on STS-135 Flight Day 12 (FD12). 

6

6

4

15

37

5

10

10

9

9

21

21

27

12

20

20

37

41

37

37

30

31

31

31

5

4

1

11

11

5

15

5

17 19

39

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

15

1

24

16

10

2

7

7

13

3

7

17

17

17

17

28

23 18

3

39

39

39

39 28 19

39

1 22

4

5

5

5

5

6 9

6

9

31

20

31

31

31

4

15

15

30

39

27

34

34

18 23

14

14

40

40

33

39

35

16

37 7

8

37

37

37

37

37

37

32

32

37 37

22

4

4

22

20

12

12

25

37

37

42 30

41

38

37 36

27

29

27

26

16

29 36

ELEMENTS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 

NP-2015-05-022-JSC ISS Guide 2015-assembly-foldouts-UPDATE.indd 53 9/2/1
Propulsion

FGB Rocket Engines

FGB engines are deactivated once the Service Module is in use.

Correction and Docking Engines: 

2 axis, 417 kgf (919 lbf)

Docking and Stabilization Engines: 

24 multidirectional, 40 kgf (88 lbf)

Accurate Stabilization Engines: 

16 multidirectional, 1.3 kgf (2.86 lbf)

FGB Propellant Storage

There are two types of propellant tanks in the Russian 

propulsion system: bellows tanks (SM, FGB), able both 

to receive and to deliver propellant, and diaphragm tanks 

(Progress), able only to deliver fuel.

Sixteen tanks provide 5,760 kg (12,698 lb) of N2O4 and UDMH 

storage: eight long tanks, each holding 400 L (105.6 gal), and 

eight short tanks, each holding 330 L (87.17 gal).

Service Module Rocket Engines

Main Engines: 2,300 kgf (661 lbf); one or both main 

engines can be fired at a time; they are fed from the 

Service Module’s propellant storage system

Attitude Control Engines: 32 multidirectional, 13.3 kgf 

(29.3 lbf); attitude control engines can accept propellant 

fed from the Service Module, the attached Progress, or 

the FGB propellant tanks

Service Module Propellant Storage

Two pairs of 200-L (52.8-gal) propellant tanks (two 

nitrogen tetroxide N2

O4 and two unsymmetrical dimethyl 

hydrazine [UDMH]) provide a total of 860 kg (1,896 lb) of 

usable propellant. The propulsion system rocket engines 

use the hypergolic reaction of UDMH and N2O4. The 

Module employs a pressurization system using N2 to 

manage the flow of propellants to the engines.

Progress Rocket 

Engines

Progress is used for 

propellant resupply and for 

performing reboosts. For the 

latter, Progress is preferred 

over the Service Module. 

Progress uses four or eight 

attitude control engines, 

all firing in the direction for 

reboost.

Orbital Correction Engine: 

1 axis, 300 kgf (661 lbf)

Attitude Control Engines: 

28 multidirectional, 13.3 kgf 

(29.3 lbf)

1. Progress Cargo Module

2. Propellant Resupply Tanks

3. Progress Propulsion System

4. Main Engines (2)

5. Attitude Control Engines (32)

6. Propellant Tanks (4)

7. Correction and Docking Engines (2)

8. Correction and Docking Engines (2)

9. Accurate Stabilization Engines (16)

10. Propellant Tanks (16)

3

3

2

2

1

1

6

6

7

7

8

8

9

9

10

10

5

5

4

4

The ISS orbits Earth at an altitude ranging from 370 to 460 kilometers (230 to 286 miles) and at a 

speed of 28,000 kilometers per hour (17,500 miles per hour). Due to atmospheric drag, the ISS is 

constantly slowed and must be re-boosted periodically to maintain its altitude. The ISS must be 

maneuvered to assist in rendezvous and docking of visiting vehicles and to avoid debris. 

Thrusters located on the Service Module, as well as on the docked vehicles are used to perform 

these maneuvers.

The Service Module provides thirty-two 13.3-kilograms force (29.3-pounds force) attitude control 

engines. The engines are combined into two groups of 16 engines each, taking care of pitch, yaw, 

and roll control. Each Progress provides 24 engines similar to those on the Service Module. When 

a Progress is docked at the aft Service Module port, these engines can be used for pitch and yaw 

control. When the Progress is docked at the Russian Docking Module, the Progress engines can 

be used for roll control.

Besides being a resupply vehicle, the Progress provides a primary method for reboosting the ISS. 

Eight 13.3-kilograms force (29.3-pounds force) Progress engines can be used for reboosting. 

The Service Module engines can also be used for reboosting. The Progress can also be used to 

resupply propellants stored in the FGB that are used in the Service Module engines. 

Node 3

Progress Service Module FGB Node 1 Destiny Node 2

JEM

Columbus Quest

Airlock

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The Communications & Tracking (C&T) System provides Radio Frequency 

(RF) links between ISS and the Mission Control Center-Houston (MCC-H), 

other ground control centers, and Payload Operations Centers (POCs) around 

the world via the Tracking & Data Relay Satellite System provided by NASA’s 

Space Network. These links support all ISS mission operations via real-time 

exchange of digital audio, video, and systems and payload data. It also 

enables the flight control team and POCs on the ground to control, operate 

and monitor performance of ISS systems and payloads.

The C&T System provides the following:

• Two-way audio between crew aboard the ISS and with Control Centers, 

including exchange of audio and receipt of video from Extravehicular Activity 

(EVA) crew.

• Downlink of high-rate payload science data to MCC-H and the Payload 

Operations & Integration Center (POIC) for distribution to payload scientists.

• Two-way crew support (email, daily planning products, family & medical 

teleconferencing, IP Phone, public affairs broadcasts).

• Transmission of multiple video channels to the ground. 

• Communications with Visiting Vehicles including the new Common 

Communications for Visiting Vehicles (C2V2) system currently in 

development for use by future Commercial Crew and Commercial Cargo/

Resupply vehicles. 

Communications

Tracking and Data 

Relay Satellites (TDRS) in 

geosynchronous orbit

Ku Band 

Ka Band 

S Band 

Soyuz

EVA Crewmembers

EVA Crewmembers

Ham Radio transmits 

directly to the ground

UHF

Band

VHF

Band

UHF Band 

and VHF Band

S Band and Ku Band 

relayed from the ISS 

via TDRS satellite

Mission Control Center 

relays communications 

to remote locations

Russian Lira

transmits directly 

to the ground

S-band Antenna Support Assembly

Ku band radio on exterior of ISS.

Ku band radio in U.S. Lab.

UHF antenna on the P1 Truss.

Crewmembers performing a public affairs event in Kibo.

Japanese Data Relay 

Test Satellite (DRTS) in 

geosynchronous orbit

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Micrometeoroid and Orbital 

Debris (MMOD) Protection

Spacecraft in low-Earth orbit are continually impacted by meteoroids and 

orbital debris. Most of the meteoroids and debris are small and cause little 

damage. A small fraction of the meteoroid and debris populations, however, 

are larger and can cause severe damage in a collision with a spacecraft.

The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest spacecraft ever built. With 

the completion of assembly more than 11,000m2 (118,400 ft2) of surface area 

is exposed to the space environment. Due to its large surface area, its long 

planned lifetime, and the potential for a catastrophic outcome of a collision, 

protecting the ISS from meteoroids and debris poses a unique challenge.

Many ISS elements are shielded from impacts. The primary shielding 

configurations are:

• Whipple shield is a two layer shield consisting of an outer bumper, usually 

aluminum, spaced some distance from the module pressure shell wall; the 

bumper plate is intended to break up, melt, or vaporize a particle on impact. 

This type of shield is used where few MMOD impacts are expected (aft, 

nadir and zenith areas of ISS.)

• Stuffed Whipple shield consists of an outer bumper, an underlying blanket 

of Nextel ceramic cloth, and Kevlar fabric to further disrupt and disperse the 

impactor spaced a distance from the module pressure shell. Because these 

shields have a higher capability than Whipple shields, they are used where 

more MMOD impacts are expected to occur (front and starboard/port sides 

of ISS).

Windows are generally multi-pane with separate and redundant pressure 

panes, as well as an outer debris pane and/or shutter to provide protection 

from MMOD. Other critical areas, such as electrical, data, and fluid lines on 

the truss and radiator panels, are toughened with additional protective layers 

to prevent loss from MMOD impacts.

A. Pressure shell penetrations unlikely

B. Possible penetrations that can be 

mitigated with shields

C. Larger debris is tracked and ISS is 

maneuvered out of impact path

A 5 inch long by 4 inch wide hole found in 2014 in a port-side 

radiator for the solar array power system. No coolant leak occurred 

due to this impact damage.

Exterior view of the Cupola Module and JAXA astronaut 

Koichi Wakata inside, looking out through one of the 

windows. 

Zenith

Velocity

Threat Directions

Micrometeoroids may approach the ISS from any 

direction but are less likely from below, where earth 

acts as a shield. debris will typically approach ISS on a 

path roughly parallel with earth’s surface and from the 

side or front.

U.S. Lab in orbit, above, NASA astronaut Ken Bowersox uses 

camera at window with partially deployed shutter; to right, 

window shutter fully deployed; outer debris shields are visible.

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Launched in 1998 and involving the U.S., Russia, Canada, Japan, 

and the participating countries of the European Space Agency—

the International Space Station is the most ambitious international 

collaborations ever attempted. It has been visited by astronauts 

from 14 countries.

Operating the space station is even more complicated than other 

space flight endeavors because it is an international program. The 

station requires the support of facilities on the Earth managed by 

all of the international partner agencies, countries and commercial 

entities involved in the program.

International Partnership

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European Astronaut Center

Cologne, Germany

NASA Headquarters

Washington D.C., U.S.

Launch Control

Kennedy Space Center

Florida, U.S.

Payload Operations Center

Marshall Space Flight Center

Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.

ISS Training

Program Management

Mission Control

Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas, U.S.

Telescience Support Center

Ames Research Center

Moett Field, California, U.S.

Space X Control Center

Hawthorne, California, U.S.

Orbital ATK Control Center 

Dulles, Virginia, U.S.

Telescience Support Center

Glenn Research Center

Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.

CSA Headquarters

Mobile Servicing System 

Control and Training

Saint-Hubert, Quebec, Canada

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Active ISS Operations and Management

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H-II Launch Control

Tanegashima , Japan

Kibo HTV

Control Center and

Crew Training

Tsukuba, Japan

JAXA 

Headquarters

Tokyo, Japan

Roscosmos Headquarters

Moscow, Russia

Gagarin Cosmonaut

Training Center (GCTC)

Star City, Russia

Russian Launch Control

Baikonur Cosmodrome

Baikonur, Kazakhstan

ISS Mission Control

Korolev, Russia

ESA Headquarters

Paris, France

Columbus 

Control Center

Oberpfaenhofen, 

Germany

ESA European Space 

Research and Technology 

Center (ESTEC)

Noordwijk, Netherlands

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Canada

Canadian Space Agency (CSA)

Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Operations Complex 

(MOC) 

Located in Saint-Hubert, Quebec, the MSS Operations Complex is 

composed of the following facilities:

• Remote Multipurpose Support Room (RMPSR)

• Operations Engineering Centre (OEC)

• MSS Operations and Training System (MOTS)

• Canadian MSS Training Facility (CMTF)

These facilities provide the resources, equipment and expertise for the 

engineering and monitoring of the MSS, as well as the facilities for training 

crew and flight controllers on Canadian robotic systems.

Payload Telescience Operations Centre (PTOC)

The PTOC in Saint Hubert supports real-time operations for Canadian 

payloads onboard the ISS.

http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca

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Europe

European Space Agency (ESA)

European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC)

The European Space Research and Technology Centre in Noordwijk, 

the Netherlands, is the largest ESA establishment, a test center and 

hub for European space activities. It has responsibility for the technical 

preparation and management of ESA space projects and provides 

technical support to ESA’s ongoing satellite, space exploration, and 

human space activities.

Columbus Control Centre (COL-CC) and Automated Transfer Vehicle 

CONTROL Centre (ATV-CC) 

Two ground control centers are responsible for controlling and 

operating the European contribution to the ISS program. These are the 

Columbus Control Centre and the Automated Transfer Vehicle Control 

Centre. The COL-CC, located at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), 

in Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich, Germany, controls and operates 

the Columbus laboratory and coordinates the operation of European 

experiments. The ATV-CC, located in Toulouse, France, on the premises 

of the French Space Agency, CNES, operates the European ATV during 

the active and docked mission phases of the ATV.

Guiana Space Centre (GSC)

Europe’s Spaceport is situated in the northeast of South America in 

French Guiana. Initially created by CNES, it is jointly funded and used by 

both the French space agency and ESA as the launch site for the Ariane 5 

vehicle.

European Astronaut Centre (EAC)

The European Astronaut Centre of the European Space Agency is 

situated in Cologne, Germany. It was established in 1990 and is the home 

base of the 13 European astronauts who are members of the European 

Astronaut Corps.

User Centers

User Support and Operation Centers (USOCs) are based in national 

centers distributed throughout Europe. These centers are responsible for 

the use and implementation of European payloads aboard the ISS.

http://www.esa.int

Europe

European Space Agency (ESA)

European Space Research and Technology Center (ESTEC)

The European Space Research and Technology Center in Noordwijk, the 

Netherlands, is the largest ESA establishment, a test center and hub for 

European space activities. It has responsibility for the technical preparation and 

management of ESA space projects and provides technical support to ESA’s 

ongoing satellite, space exploration, and human space activities.

Columbus Control Center (Col-CC) 

The COL-CC, located at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), in 

Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich, Germany, controls and operates the Columbus 

laboratory and coordinates the operation of European experiments.

European Astronaut Center (EAC)

The European Astronaut Center of the European Space Agency is situated in 

Cologne, Germany. It was established in 1990 and is the home base of the 13 

European astronauts who are members of the European Astronaut Corps.

User Centers

User Support and Operation Centers (USOCs) are based in national 

centers distributed throughout Europe. These centers are responsible 

for the use and implementation of European payloads aboard the ISS.

http://www.esa.int

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Japan 

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

In addition to the JAXA headquarters in Tokyo and other field centers 

throughout the country, Tsukuba Space Center and Tanegashima Launch 

Facility are JAXA’s primary ISS facilities. 

Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC)

JAXA’s Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC), located in Tsukuba Science City, 

opened its doors in 1972. The TKSC is a consolidated operations facility with 

world-class equipment, testing facilities, and crew training capabilities. The 

Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) “Kibo” was developed and tested at 

TKSC for the ISS. The Kibo Control Center plays an important role in control 

and tracking of the JEM. 

Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC) 

The Tanegashima Space Center is the largest rocket-launch complex in Japan 

and is located in the south of Kagoshima Prefecture, along the southeast coast 

of Tanegashima. The Yoshinobu launch complex is on site for H-IIA and H-IIB 

launch vehicles. There are also related developmental facilities for test firings of 

liquid- and solid-fuel rocket engines.

http://www.jaxa.jp/index_e.html

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Russia

Roscosmos, Russian Federal Space Agency

Roscosmos oversees all Russian human space flight activities.

Moscow Mission Control Center (TsUP)

Moscow Mission Control Center is the primary Russian facility for the 

control of Russian human spaceflight activities and operates the ISS 

Russian segment. It is located in Korolev, outside of Moscow, at the 

Central Institute of Machine building (TsNIIMASH) of Roscosmos.

Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut 

Training Center (GCTC)

The Gagarin cosmonaut training center, at Zvezdny Gorodok (Star City), 

near Moscow, provides full-size trainers and simulators of all Russian ISS 

modules, a water pool used for spacewalk training, centrifuges to simulate 

g-forces during liftoff, and a planetarium used for celestial navigation.

Baikonur Cosmodrome

The Baikonur Cosmodrome, in Kazakhstan, is the chief launch center for 

both piloted and unpiloted space vehicles. It supports the Soyuz and Proton 

launch vehicles and plays an essential role in the deployment and operation 

of the ISS.

http://www.roscosmos.ru

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United States of America

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

NASA Headquarters (HQ)

NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC, exercises management over the 

NASA Field Centers, establishes management policies, and analyzes all 

phases of the ISS program.

Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX, directs the ISS program. Mission 

control operates the U.S. On-orbit Segment (USOS) and manages activities 

across the ISS in close coordination with the international partner control 

centers. JSC is the primary center for spacecraft design, development, 

and mission integration. JSC is also the primary location for crew training. 

Commercial Resupply Services contracts with OrbitalATK and SpaceX U.S. 

commercial companies are managed by JSC to provide reliable commercial 

cargo transportation that is critical for the continued support of the ISS 

research community. NASA’s contract strategy enabled the contractor’s 

responsibility to provide an end to end service while meeting milestone 

payment and mission success criteria. NASA’s key focus is managing the 

research, cargo and safety aspects for each mission to the ISS. A followon contract for ISS services will expand the vehicle research capability and 

promote further U.S. space industry competition.

Kennedy Space Center (KSC)

Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, FL, prepared the ISS modules 

and Space Shuttle orbiters for each mission, coordinated each countdown, 

and managed Space Shuttle launch and post-landing operations. The goal of 

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP) Commercial Crew Transportation 

Capability will enable NASA to ensure crew transportation system is safe, 

reliable and cost-effective. The certification process will assess progress 

throughout the production and testing of one or more integrated space 

transportation systems, which include rockets, spacecraft, missions and 

ground operations. Requirements also include at least one crewed flight test 

to the space station before NASA certification of a U. S. spacecraft can be 

granted. CCP missions will then provide ISS crew rotation and double the 

amount of critical science research being performed on-orbit.

Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) 

Marshall Space Flight Center’s Payload Operations and Integration Center 

(POIC) controls the operation of U.S. experiments and coordinates partner 

experiments aboard the ISS. MSFC oversaw development of most U.S. 

modules and the ISS ECLSS system.

Telescience Support Centers (TSCs) 

Telescience Support Centers around the country are equipped to conduct 

science operations on board the ISS. These TSCs are located at Marshall 

Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL; Ames Research Center (ARC) in Moffett 

Field, CA; Glenn Research Center (GRC) in Cleveland, OH; and Johnson 

Space Center in Houston, TX.

http://www.nasa.gov

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Russia Japan U.S. Europe

Soyuz SL-4 Proton SL-12 H-IIB Space Shuttle Ariane 5

First launch to ISS 2000 1998 2009 1998 2008

Launch site(s) Baikonur

Cosmodrome

Baikonur

Cosmodrome

Tanegashima

Space Center Kennedy Space Center Guiana

Space Center

Launch performance

payload capacity

7,150 kg

(15,750 lb)

20,000 kg

(44,000 lb)

16,500 kg

(36,400 lb)

18,600 kg 

(41,000 lb) 

105,000 kg (230,000 lb),

orbiter only

18,000 kg

(39,700 lb)

Return performance

payload capacity N/A N/A N/A

18,600 kg 

(41,000 lb) 

105,000 kg (230,000 lb), 

orbiter only

N/A

Number of stages 2 + 4 strap-ons 4 + 6 strap-ons 2 + 4 strap-ons 1.5 + 2 strap-ons 2 + 2 strap-ons

Length 49.5 m

(162 ft)

57 m

(187 ft)

57 m

(187 ft)

56.14 m 

(18.2 ft) 

37.24 m (122.17 ft),

orbiter only

51 m

(167 ft)

Mass 310,000 kg

(683,400 lb)

690,000 kg

(1,521,200 lb)

531,000 kg

(1,170,700 lb)

2,040,000 kg

(4,497,400 lb)

746,000 kg

(1,644,600 lb)

Launch thrust 6,000 kN

(1,348,800 lbf)

9,000 kN

(2,023,200 lbf)

5,600 kN

(1,258,900 lbf)

34,677 kN

(7,795,700 lbf)

11,400 kN

(2,562,820 lbf)

Payload examples

Soyuz

Progress

Pirs

Service Module

Functional

Cargo Block (FGB)

Multipurpose Lab 

Module (MLM)

H-II

Transfer Vehicle

(HTV)

Shuttle Orbiter, 

Nodes 1–3, U.S. Lab, JEM,

Truss elements, Airlock, 

SSRMS

Ariane Automated

Transfer Vehicle

(ATV)

Soyuz Proton H-IIB Shuttle

1998-2011

Ariane

2008-2015

Roscosmos

Russia

JAXA

Japan

NASA

United States

ESA 

Europe

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Soyuz

Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos)/

S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia 

(RSC Energia)

Soyuz spacecraft have been in use since the mid-1960s and have been 

upgraded periodically. Soyuz can support independently three suited 

crewmembers for up to 5.2 days and be docked to the ISS up to 200 

days. The vehicle has an automatic docking system and may be piloted 

automatically or by a crewmember. The Soyuz provides transportation of 

Crewmembers and cargo to/from the ISS. The Soyuz is comprised of 3 

modules, the Descent module is the only one which returns to Earth.

Soyuz spacecraft approaching the International 

Space Station.

Cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov reviews procedures in the 

descent module of a docked Soyuz TMA-1 spacecraft.

1

1A

2

3

3A

4

5

6 7

8

9

10

7A Pressurized 

Section

Launch and Aborts

1 Launch

1A Abort using escape rocket

2 Escape rocket jettison, nose shroud 

separation (160 seconds in full)

3 Staging (186 seconds)

3A Abort by separation of Soyuz

4 Orbital velocity (526 seconds)

Return

5 Soyuz retrofire, orbital module

separation, reentry module separation

6 Pilot parachute deploys

7 Drogue parachute deploys

7A Main parachute reefed

8 Main parachute fully deployed

9 Reentry heatshield jettison

10 Landing, retro rocket firing

Mission Sequence

Launch mass 7,190 kg (15,851 lb)

Descent module 2,900 kg (6,393 lb)

Orbital module 1,300 kg (2,866 lb)

Instrumentation/

propulsion module

2,600 kg (5,732 lb)

Delivered payload 

with two crewmembers

with three crewmembers

230 kg (507 lb)

170 kg (375 lb)

Returned payload 50 kg (110 lb)

Length 7 m (22.9 ft)

Maximum diameter 2.7 m (8.9 ft)

Diameter of habitable 

modules 

2.2 m (7.2 ft)

Solar array span 10.6 m (34.8 ft)

Volume of orbital module 6.5 m3 (229.5 ft3)

Volume of descent 

module

4 m3 (141.3 ft3)

Descent g-loads 4–5 g

Final landing speed 2 m/s (6.6 ft/s)

Kurs Antenna

Booster Attachment

Structure

Attitude Control Engines

VHF Radio 

Antenna Primary 

Propulsion System

Environmental 

Control Electronics

Crew

Periscope 

High-Gain 

Kurs 

Antenna

Stowage

Reentry Module Hatch

Solar Array

Command 

Radio Antenna

Controls and Displays

Orbital Module

Descent Module

Instrumentation/

Propulsion 

Module

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Progress Spacecraft connected to the Pirs Docking Compartment 1 (DC1).

This close-up view shows the docking mechanism of the unpiloted Russian ISS Progress 

resupply ship as it undocks from the International Space Station’s Pirs Docking Compartm

Progress is a resupply vehicle used for dry cargo, propellant, water, and gas 

deliveries to the ISS. Once docked to the ISS, Progress engines can boost the 

ISS to higher altitudes and control the orientation of the ISS in space. Typically, 

four Progress vehicles bring supplies to the ISS each year. Progress is based 

upon the Soyuz design, and it can either work autonomously or can be flown 

remotely by crewmembers aboard the ISS. After a Progress vehicle is filled 

with trash from the ISS, and after undocking and deorbit, it is incinerated in 

Earth’s atmosphere at the end of its mission. During its autonomous flight (up 

to 30 days), Progress can serve as a remote free-flying research laboratory for 

conducting space experiments.

Progress

Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos)/

S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia 

(RSC Energia)

Length 7.4 m (24.3 ft)

Maximum diameter 2.7 m (8.9 ft)

Span with solar arrays 10.7 m (35.1 ft)

Launch mass 7,440 kg (16,402 lb)

Cargo upload capacity 2,250 kg (4,960 lb)

Pressurized habitable 

volume 7.0 m3 (247.2 ft3)

Engine thrust 2,942 N (661 lbf)

Orbital life 6 mo

Dry cargo max 1,700 kg (3,748 lb)

Refueling propellant 870 kg (1,918 lb)

Cargo Load

Maximum Typical*

Dry cargo 

such as bags

1,800 kg 

(3,968 lb)

1,070 kg 

(2,360 lb)

Water 420 kg 

(925 lb)

300 kg 

(660 lb)

Air 50 kg 

(110 lb)

47 kg 

(103 lb)

Refueling 

propellant

1,700 kg (3,748 

lb)

870 kg (1,918 lb)

Reboost 

propellant

250 kg 

(550 lb)

250 kg 

(550 lb)

Waste 

capacity

2,140 kg 

(4,718 lb)

2,000 kg 

(4,409 lb)

Kurs 

Antenna

Booster

Attachment

Structure

Attitude

Control

Engines

Pressurized

Instrumentation 

Section Fluids Storage

Tanks

Probe and Drogue

Docking System

Kurs

Antenna

Command

Radio Antenna

Primary

Propulsion

System Stepped Scan

Array Antenna

VHF Radio

Antenna

Solar Array

Refueling 

Module 

Cargo 

Module

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JAXA H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)/

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

The H-II Transfer Vehicle is an autonomous logistical resupply vehicle 

designed to berth to the ISS using the Space Station Remote Manipulation 

System (SSRMS). HTV offers the capability to carry logistics materials in both 

its internal pressurized carrier and in an unpressurized carrier for exterior 

placement. It is launched on the H-II unmanned launch vehicle and can carry 

dry cargo, gas and water. After fresh cargo is unloaded at the ISS, the HTV 

is loaded with trash and waste products; after unberthing and deorbit, it is 

incinerated during reentry.

Tanegashima Launch Facility control room. View of H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) docked to Node 2.

Length 9.2 m (30 ft)

Maximum diameter 4.4 m (14.4 ft)

Launch mass 16,500 kg (36,375 lb)

Cargo upload 

capacity 5,500 kg (12,125 lb)

Pressurized habitable 

volume 14 m3 (495 ft3)

Unpressurized 

volume 16 m3 (565 ft3)

Orbital life 6 mo

Lithium Ion

Batteries

Propellant Tanks

Avionics

Exposed Pallet

Exposed Pallet

Payload

Forward Attitude 

Control Engines

Hatch and 

Berthing Ring 

(to ISS Node)

Pressurized Carrier

Unpressurized Carrier

Avionics Module

Propulsion 

Module

International

Standard Payload 

Racks (ISPRs)

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A portion of the International Space Station and the docked space shuttle Endeavour. Space shuttle Atlantis launches from Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center on 

the STS-135 mission, the final flight of the Space Shuttle Program (SSP). 

Between the first assembly launch using the Space Shuttle on December 4, 

1998, and the final landing on July 21, 2011, NASA’s space shuttle fleet – 

Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour – helped construct the largest structure in 

space, the International Space Station. The Space Shuttle was used to 

deliver most of the ISS modules and major components. It also provided crew 

rotation (beginning in November, 2001), science and maintenance 

cargo delivery, and is the only vehicle that provided the capability to return 

significant payloads.

Space Shuttle Orbiter/

Discovery, Atlantis, Endeavour

NASA/Boeing

1981-2011

Length 37.2 m (122.2 ft)

Height 17.3 m (56.7 ft)

Wingspan 23.8 m (78 ft)

Typical mass 104,000 kg (230,000 lb)

Cargo capacity 16,000 kg (35,000 lb) 

(typical launch and return 

to ISS)

Pressurized habitable 

volume

74 m3 (2,625 ft3)

Mission length 7–16 days, typical

Number of crew 7, typical

Atmosphere oxygen-nitrogen

Cargo Bay 

Length 18.3 m (60 ft)

Diameter 4.6 m (15 ft)

Body Flap

Maneuvering

Engines Orbital and 

Attitude Maneuvering 

System Pod

Payload Bay 

Door Hinges

Main Landing 

Gear Door

Crew 

Access Hatch

Star

Tracker

Forward Reaction

Control Primary

Engines

Air Data

Probe External Tank

Umbilical Door

Reinforced CarbonCarbon Leading Edge

Nose Cap

Aft Bulkhead

Aileron/Elevon

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70 INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

Attitude Control 

Engines (20)

Solar

Array

Titanium Tanks 

for carrying water, 

propellant, and 

oxygen.

Environmental 

Control System

ISPRs (8)

ATV 

Spacecraft Bus

Integrated 

Cargo Carrier

based on 

MPLM design

 ISS 

 Service 

 Module

Cargo 

Compartment

Primary

Maneuvering

Engines (4)

Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV)

European Space Agency (ESA)/European Aeronautic 

Defence and Space Co. (EADS)

2008-2015

The European Space Agency Automated Transfer Vehicle was an 

autonomous logistical resupply vehicle that provided the crew with dry cargo, 

atmospheric gas, water, and propellant. After the cargo was unloaded, 

the ATV was reloaded with trash and waste products, undocked, and was 

incinerated during reentry. Five ATVs, Jules Verne, Johannes Kepler, Edoardo 

Amaldi, Albert Einstein, and Georges Lemaître were launched, with the first in 

March 2008. The last ATV was undocked from ISS in February 2015, ending 

the ATV program.

ESA astronaut André Kuipers floats into the ATV. View of European Space Agency (ESA) Edoardo Amaldi Automated Transfer Vehicle-3 (ATV-3) 

approaching the International Space Station (ISS).

Length 10.3 m (33.8 ft)

Maximum diameter 4.5 m (14.8 ft)

Span across solar arrays 22.3 m (73.2 ft)

Launch mass 20,750 kg (45,746 lb)

Cargo upload capacity 7,667 kg (16,903 lb)

Engine thrust 1,960 N (441 lbf)

Orbital life 6 mo

Cargo Load

Dry cargo such as bags 5,500 kg (12,125 lb)

Water 840 kg (1,852 lb)

Air (O2

, N2) 100 kg (220 lb)

Refueling propellant 860 kg (1,896 lb)

Reboost propellant 4,700 kg (10,360 lb)

Waste capacity 6,500 kg (14,330 lb)

Probe and Drogue

Docking System

Integrated

Cargo Carrier

ATV

Spacecraft

Bus

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COMMERCIALIZATION OF LOW-EARTH ORBIT | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 

NASA, working with the other ISS International Partners, will 

continue to foster greater use of the ISS platform, for both research 

and commercial activities, while using the ISS as a base for 

expanding the commercial use of low Earth orbit (LEO). NASA 

remains the primary supplier of capabilities and services in LEO, 

such as habitation systems, power, cooling, crew health equipment, 

upmass and sample return, research facilities, cold stowage, 

crew time, and data transmission. It is the goal of NASA to evolve 

these systems onboard ISS in such a way that they will support 

market driven commercial research. NASA is also fostering new 

commercial markets in LEO through its innovative cargo resupply 

services and crew transportation contracts.

Commercialization

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72 COMMERCIALIZATION OF LOW-EARTH ORBIT | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

Commercial Crew Requirements for 

International Space Station Missions

• Transport 4 NASA or NASA-sponsored crew 

members

• Transport 220.5 pounds of pressurized cargo

• Stay on orbit docked to the station for up to 210 

days

• Serve as a safe haven and act as a lifeboat in case of 

an emergency

• Able to quickly return to Earth for time-sensitive cargo

Commercial Crew Benefits

• Cost-Effective: Developing safe, reliable and costeffective crew transportation to the International 

Space Station that reduces reliance on foreign 

systems.

• American Ingenuity: Lowering the cost of access to 

space and enhancing the U.S. industrial base.

– NASA’s Commercial Crew Program partner 

companies, and their providers and suppliers, are 

leading a truly national effort.

– More than 150 companies across 37 states 

are applying their most efficient and innovative 

approaches to get astronauts back into space on 

American-led spacecraft and rockets.

– American companies have the flexibility to 

determine the design details and development 

approach for state-of-the-art U.S.-based 

transportation systems to and from the 

International Space Station and to develop other 

space markets in low-Earth orbit.

• Journey to Mars: Using limited resources wisely to 

enable deep space capabilities.

– NASA is on a dual path for human exploration. 

By turning over low-Earth orbit flights to the 

commercial aerospace industry, NASA can pursue 

the challenges of deep space exploration and our 

journey to Mars.

• Focus on Science: Two times more research.

– The International Space Station crew spends about 

35 hours each week conducting research in Earth, 

space, physical and biological sciences to advance 

scientific knowledge for the benefit of people living 

on Earth.

– NASA requires these spacecraft to carry a crew of 

four, enabling the station crew to expand from six 

to seven astronauts and cosmonauts.

– It only takes six crew members to maintain the 

station, so an extra person translates to 40 

additional hours of crew time for research.

Requirements and Benefits

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COMMERCIALIZATION OF LOW-EARTH ORBIT | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 

The Cygnus missions are launched on an Antares from the NASA Wallops 

Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia. The first stage is powered by two 

RD-181 engines, and the second stage is a Castor 30XL. The spacecraft that 

launches on the Antares is called the Cygnus. The Cygnus spacecraft is an 

automated logistical resupply vehicle designed to rendezvous with the ISS and 

is grappled and berthed using the Space Station Remote Manipulator System 

(SSRMS). The Cygnus has a Pressurized Cargo Module (PCM) that brings 

cargo (logistics and utilization) to the ISS. The other section of the spacecraft 

is the Service Module (SM), which houses the avionics, electrical, propulsion, 

and guidance systems. After cargo is transferred to the ISS, Cygnus is then 

loaded with trash for disposal. Once the mission is complete, the Cygnus 

unberths from the ISS and is destroyed (incinerated) upon re-entry into the 

Earth’s atmosphere.

Antares and Cygnus

Orbital ATK

Antares

Height 40.1 m

Diameter 3.9 m

Mass at launch 290,000 - 310,000 kg

First stage thrust 4.17 MN

Second stage thrust 533 kN

Cygnus

PCM Length 5.1 m

Diameter 3.05 m

Maximum Upmass 

Pressurized

Maximum Downmass 

Pressurized

3200 -3500 kg

3500 kg

Maximum Upmass 

Unpressurized

Maximum Downmass 

Unpressurized

0

0

Payload volume

Pressurized 26 m3

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74 COMMERCIALIZATION OF LOW-EARTH ORBIT | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

The SpaceX missions are launched on a Falcon 9 from Launch Complex 40 at 

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The first stage is powered by nine 

SpaceX Merlin engines, and the second stage is also a single SpaceX Merlin 

engine. The spacecraft that launches on the Falcon 9 is called the Dragon.

The Dragon spacecraft is an automated logistical resupply vehicle designed to 

rendezvous with the ISS and is grappled and berthed using the Space Station 

Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS).

The Dragon has a capsule section for delivering pressurized cargo, and 

another section called the “trunk” is used to deliver unpressurized cargo to the 

ISS. Once the mission is complete, the Dragon unberths from the ISS. The 

trunk is jettisoned and destroyed during reentry into the atmosphere, whereas 

the Dragon capsule, with its valuable pressurized return cargo, reenters the 

Earth’s atmosphere and lands in the ocean with the use of parachutes. The 

Dragon capsule is recovered by SpaceX and is transported back to their 

facility for return cargo processing.

Falcon 9 and Dragon

Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX)

Falcon 9

Height 48.1 m (157.80 ft)

Diameter 3.66 m (12 ft)

Mass at launch 313,000 kg (690,047 lb)

First stage thrust 3.80 MN (854,000 lb)

Second stage thrust 414 kN (93,000 lb)

Dragon

Height 5.1 m (16.73 ft)

Diameter 3.66 m (12 ft)

Maximum Pressurized Cargo

Up mass/volume

Down mass/volume

3,310 kg (7,297 lb)

6.8 m3 (240 ft3)

2,500 kg (5,512 lb)

6.8 m3 (240 ft3)

Maximum Unpressurized 

Cargo

Up mass/volume

Down mass/volume

3,310 kg (7,297 lb)

14 m3 (494 ft3)

2,600 kg (5,732 lb)

14 m3 Disposed (494 ft3)

Payload volume

Pressurized

Unpressurized

10 m3 (245 ft3)

14 m3 (490 ft3)

Dragon 

spacecraft

Falcon 9

launch vehicle

Nosecone Pressurized Section 

(PS)

Service 

Section (SS)

Capsule

Dragon

Trunk

SpaceX’s Dragon cargo capsule is seen here docked to the Earth facing port of the Harmony module.

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ASSEMBLY | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 

The ISS design evolved over a decade. Like a Lego set, each piece 

of the ISS was launched and assembled in space, using complex 

robotics systems and humans in spacesuits connecting fluid lines and 

electrical wires.

The ISS components were built in various countries around the world, 

with each piece performing once connected in space, a testament to 

the teamwork and cultural coordination.

Assembly

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76 ASSEMBLY | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

ISS Expanded View

ISS Expanded View prior to the ISS 

reconfiguration in the summer of 2015

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ASSEMBLY | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 

ISS Expanded View post the ISS 

reconfiguration in the summer of 2015

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78 ASSEMBLY | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

The ISS is the largest human made object ever to orbit the Earth. The 

ISS has a mass of 410,501 kg (905,000 lbs) and a pressurized volume of 

approximately 916 m3 (32,333 ft3). The ISS can generate up to 80 kilowatts 

of electrical power per orbit from solar arrays which cover an approximate 

area of 2,997 m2 (32,264 ft2). The ISS structure measures 95 m (311 ft) from 

the P6 to S6 trusses and 59 m (193 ft) from PMA2 to the Progress docked on 

the aft of the Russian Service Module. The ISS orbital altitude can range from 

278-460 km (150-248 nautical miles) and is in an orbital inclination of 51.6 

degrees. The ISS currently houses 6 crew members.

Building the ISS required 36 Space Shuttle assembly flights and 5 Russian 

launches. Currently, logistics and resupply are provided through a number of 

vehicles including the Russian Progress and Soyuz, Japanese H-II Transfer 

Vehicle (HTV), and commercial cargo vehicles (Dragon and Cygnus). Previous 

vehicles that have been retired include the Space Shuttle and the European 

Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV).

Principal Stages in 

Construction

ISS stage number/letter conventions:

A=U.S. Assembly

E=European Assembly

J=Japanese Assembly

LF=Logistics

R=Russian Assembly

UF=Utilization

ULF=Utilization/Logistics

Stage/

Date Element Added Launch Vehicle ISS Picture

1A/R

November 

1998 Functional Cargo Block (FGB) Proton

2A

December 

1998 Node 1, Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA) 1, 2

Space Shuttle

STS-88

1R 

July 2000 Service Module (SM) Proton

3A

October 

2000 Zenith 1 (Z1) Truss, PMA 3

Space Shuttle

STS-92

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ASSEMBLY | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 

Stage/

Date Element Added Launch Vehicle ISS Picture

4A

December 

2000 Port 6 (P6) Truss

Space Shuttle

STS-97

5A

February 

2001 U.S. Laboratory (Lab)

Space Shuttle

STS-98

5A.1

March

2001 External Stowage Platform (ESP) 1

Space Shuttle

STS-98

6A

April

2001 Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS)

Space Shuttle

STS-100

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80 ASSEMBLY | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

Stage/

Date Element Added Launch Vehicle ISS Picture

7A

July 

2001 U.S. Airlock

Space Shuttle

STS-104

4R

September 

2001 Russian Docking Compartment (DC) and Airlock Soyuz

8A

April 

2002 Starboard Zero (S0) Truss and Mobile Transporter (MT)

Space Shuttle

STS-110

UF-2

June 

2002 Mobile Base System

Space Shuttle

STS-111

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ASSEMBLY | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 

Stage/

Date Element Added Launch Vehicle ISS Picture

9A

October 

2002 S1 Truss and Crew Equipment Translation Aid (CETA) Cart

Space Shuttle

STS-112

11A

November 

2002 P1 Truss and CETA Cart

Space Shuttle

STS-113

LF1

July 

2005 ESP-2

Space Shuttle

STS-114

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82 ASSEMBLY | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

Stage/

Date Element Added Launch Vehicle ISS Picture

12A

September 

2006 P3/P4 Truss

Space Shuttle

STS-115

12A.1

December 

2006 P5 Truss, retracting P6 arrays

Space Shuttle

STS-116

13A

June 

2007 S3/S4 Truss

Space Shuttle

STS-117

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ASSEMBLY | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 

Stage/

Date Element Added Launch Vehicle ISS Picture

13A.1

August 

2007 S5 Truss and ESP-3

Space Shuttle

STS-118

10A

October 

2007 Node 2, P6 relocated

Space Shuttle

STS-120

1E

February 

2008 ESA Columbus Module

Space Shuttle

STS-122

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Stage/

Date Element Added Launch Vehicle ISS Picture

1J/A

March

2008

Japanese Experiment Module Experiment Logistics 

Module Pressurized Section (JEM-ELM-PS) and Canadian 

Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (Dextre)

Space Shuttle

STS-123

1J

June 

2008 JEM Pressurized Module (PM)

Space Shuttle

STS-124

15A

March 

2009 S6 Truss

Space Shuttle

STS-119

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ASSEMBLY | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 

Stage/

Date Element Added Launch Vehicle ISS Picture

2J/A 

July 

2009 JEM Exposed Facility (JEM-EF)

Space Shuttle

STS-127

5R

November 

2009 Russian Mini-Research Module 2 Soyuz

ULF3

November

2009 ExPRESS Logistics Carriers (ELC) 1, 2

Space Shuttle

STS-129

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86 ASSEMBLY | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

Stage/

Date Element Added Launch Vehicle ISS Picture

20A

February 

2010 Node 3 and Cupola

Space Shuttle

STS-130

ULF4

May

2010 Russian Mini-Research Module 1 (MRM-1)

Space Shuttle

STS-132

ULF5 Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) and ELC-4

Space Shuttle

STS-133

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ASSEMBLY | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 

Stage/

Date Element Added Launch Vehicle ISS Picture

ULF6 Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) and ELC-3

Space Shuttle STS134

3R

Russian Multipurpose Laboratory Module

and European Robotic Arm (ERA) Proton

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88 MISSIONS: STS MISSIONS AND CREWS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

High-performing personnel are key to International Space Station 

(ISS) mission success. International crewmembers and ground 

controllers who support assembly, logistics, and long-duration 

missions have highly specialized skills and training. They also utilize 

procedures and tools developed especially for the ISS.

The experience gained from the ISS program has improved the 

interaction between the flight crews and ground-team members 

and has made missions safer and more effective. Moreover, 

working with teams from many countries and cultures on the 

ground and in space has provided (and continues to provide) 

Missions

innovative solutions to critical operational challenges.

88 MISSIONS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

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MISSIONS: ISS EXPEDITIONS AND CREWS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 

ISS Expeditions and Crews

1 6

2 7

3 8

4 9

5 10

Start on November 2, 2001

End on March 18, 2001

136 days on ISS

Start November 25, 2002

End May 3, 2003

159 days on ISS

Start March 10, 2001

End August 20, 2001

163 days on ISS

Start April 28, 2003

End October 27, 2003

183 days on ISS

Begin August 12, 2001

End December 15, 2001

125 days on ISS

Start October 20, 2003

End April 29, 2004

193 days on ISS 

Start December 7, 2001

End June 15, 2001

190 days on ISS

Start April 21, 2004

End October 23, 2004

186 days on ISS

Start June 7, 2002

December 2, 2002

178 days on ISS

October 14, 2004

April 24, 2005

190 days on ISS

 William Shepherd 

 Yuri Gidzenko

 Sergei Krikalev

 Kenneth Bowersox 

 Nikolai Budarin 

 Donald Pettit

 Yuri Usachev

 Jim Voss

 Susan Helms

 Yuri Malenchenko

 Edward Lu

 Frank Culbertson

 Vladimir Dezhurov 

 Mikhail Tyurin

 Michael Foale

 Alexander Kaleri

 Yury Onufrienko 

 Carl Walz

 Daniel Bursch

 Gennady Padalka

 E. Michael Fincke

 Valery Korzun

 Sergei Treschev

 Peggy Whitson

 Leroy Chiao

 Salizhan Sharipov

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90 MISSIONS: ISS EXPEDITIONS AND CREWS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

11 16

12

17

13

18

14

15 19

Start April 17, 2005

End October 10, 2005

177 days on ISS

Start October 10, 2007

End April 19, 2008

192 days on ISS

Start October 3, 2005

End April 8, 2006

188 days on ISS

Start April 8, 2008

End October, 23 2008

198 days on ISS

Start April 1, 2006

End September 28, 2006

181 days on ISS

Start October 14, 2008

End April 8, 2009

178 days on ISS Start September 18, 2006

End April 21, 2007

205 days on ISS

Start April 8, 2009

End May 29, 2009

62 days on ISS

Start April 7, 2007

End October 21, 2007

197 days on ISS

 Sergei Krikalev

 John Phillips

 Peggy Whitson

 Yuri Malenchenko

 Clayton Anderson

 Daniel Tani

 Léopold Eyharts

 Garrett Reisman

 William S. McArthur

 Valery Tokarev

 Sergey Vokov

 Oleg Kononenko

 Garrett Reisman

 Gregory Chamitoff

 Pavel Vinogradov

 Jeffrey Williams

 Thomas Reiter

 Michael Finke

 Yuri Lonchakov

 Gregory Chamitoff

 Sandra Magnus

 Kochi Wakata

 Michael E. Lopez-Alegria

 Mikhail Tyurin

 Thomas Reiter

 Sunita L. Williams

 Gennady Padalka

 Michael Barratt

 Kochi Wakata

 Fyodoro Yurchikhin

 Oleg Kotov

 Sunita Williams

 Clayton Anderson

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20 24

21 25

22 26

23 27

Start May 29, 2009

End October 11, 2009

135 days on ISS

Start November 25, 2002

End May 3, 2003

176 days on ISS

Start October 11, 2009

End December 1, 2009

51 days on ISS

Start September 25, 2010

End November 26, 2010

159 days on ISS

Start December 1, 2009

End March 18, 2010

107 days on ISS

Start November 26, 2010

End March 16, 2011

160 days on ISS

Start December 7, 2001

End June 15, 2001

190 days on ISS

Start March 16, 2011

End May 23, 2011

164 days on ISS

 Gennady Padalka

 Michael Barratt

 Kochi Wakata

 Timothy Kopra

 Nicole Stott

 Frank De Winne

 Roman Romanenko

 Robert Thirsk

 Aleksandr Skvortsov

 Mikhail Korniyenko

 Tracy Caldwell Dyson

 Fyodor Yurchikhin

 Shannon Walker

 Douglas Wheelock

 Frank De Winne

 Roman Romanenko

 Robert Thirsk

 Jeffrey Williams

 Maksim Surayev

 Nicole Stott

 Douglas H. Wheelock

 Shannon Walker

 Fyodor Yurchikhin

 Scott J. Kelly

 Aleksandr Kaleri

 Oleg Skripochka

 Jeffrey Williams

 Maksim Surayev

 Oleg Kotov

 Soichi Noguchi

 Timothy Creamer

 Scott J. Kelly

 Aleksandr Kaleri

 Oleg Skripochka

 Dimitri Kondratyev

 Catherine G. Coleman

 Paolo Nespoli

 Oleg Kotov

 Soichi Noguchi

 Timothy Creamer

 Aleksandr Skvortsov

 Mikhail Korniyenko

 Tracy Caldwell Dyson

 Dimitri Kondratyev

 Catherine G. Coleman

 Paolo Nespoli

 Andrei Borisenko

 Aleksandr Samokutyayev

 Ronald J. Garan

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28 32

29 33

30 34

31 35

Start May 23, 2011

End September 16, 2011

167 days on ISS

Start July 1, 2012

End September 17, 2012

126 days on ISS

Start September 16, 2011

End November 16, 2011

165 days on ISS

Start September 17, 2012

End November 18, 2012

143 days on ISS

Start November 16, 2011

End April 27, 2012

192 days on ISS

Start November 18, 2012

End March 15, 2013

145 days on ISS

Start April 27, 2012

End July 1, 2012

124 days on ISS

Start March 15, 2013

End May 13, 2013

166 days on ISS

 Andrei Borisenko

 Aleksandr Samokutyayev

 Ronald J. Garan

 Michael E. Fossum

 Sergey Volkov

 Satoshi Furukawa

 Gennady Padalka

 Sergei Revin

 Joseph M. Acaba

 Sunita L. Williams

 Yuri Malenchenko

 Akihiko Hoshide

 Michael E. Fossum

 Sergey Volkov

 Satoshi Furukawa

 Daniel C. Burbank

 Anton Shkaplerov

 Anatoli Ivanishin

 Sunita L. Williams

 Yuri Malenchenko

 Akihiko Hoshide

 Kevin A. Ford

 Oleg Novitskiy

 Evgeny Tarelkin

 Daniel C. Burbank

 Anton Shkaplerov

 Anatoli Ivanishin

 Oleg Kononenko

 Donald R. Pettit

 André Kuipers

 Kevin A. Ford

 Oleg Novitskiy

 Evgeny Tarelkin

 Chris Hadfield

 Roman Romanenko

 Thomas H. Marshburn

 Oleg Kononenko

 Donald R. Pettit

 André Kuipers

 Gennady Padalka

 Sergei Revin

 Joseph M. Acaba

 Chris Hadfield

 Roman Romanenko

 Thomas H. Marshburn

 Pavel Vinogradov

 Aleksandr Misurkin

 Christopher J. Cassidy

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36

37

41

38

42

39

40

43

44

Start May 13, 2013

End September 11, 2013

166 days on ISS

Start May 13, 2014

End September 11, 2014

165 days on ISS

Start September 11, 2013

End November 10, 2013

166 days on ISS

Start September 11, 2014

End November 10, 2014

167 days on ISS

Start November 10, 2013

End March 11, 2014

188 days on ISS

Start November 10, 2014

End March 12, 2015

169 days on ISS

Start March 11, 2014

End May 13, 2014

169 days on ISS

Start March 12, 2015

End May 13, 2015

Start May 13, 2015

End September 11, 2015

 Pavel Vinogradov

 Aleksandr Misurkin

 Christopher J. Cassidy

Fyodor Yurchikhin

Karen L. Nyberg

 Luca Parmitano

 Steven R. Swanson

 Aleksandr Skvortsov

 Oleg Artemyev

 Gregory R. Wiseman

 Maksim Surayev

 Alexander Gerst

Fyodor Yurchikhin

Karen L. Nyberg

 Luca Parmitano

Oleg Kotov

Sergey Ryazansky

Michael S. Hopkins

 Maksim Surayev

 Gregory R. Wiseman

 Alexander Gerst

 Aleksandr Samokutyayev

 Yelena Serova

 Barry E. Wilmore

Oleg Kotov

Sergey Ryazansky

Michael S. Hopkins

 Koichi Wakata

Mikhail Tyurin

Richard A. Mastracchio

 Barry E. Wilmore

 Aleksandr Samokutyayev

 Yelena Serova

 Anton Shkaplerov

Samantha Cristoforetti

 Terry W. Virts

 Koichi Wakata

Mikhail Tyurin

Richard A. Mastracchio

Aleksandr Skvortsov

Oleg Artemyev

Steven R. Swanson

 Anton Shkaplerov

Samantha Cristoforetti

 Terry W. Virts

 Scott Kelly

 Mikhail Kornienko

 Genady Padalka

 Scott Kelly

 Mikhail Kornienko

 Genady Padalka

 Kjell Lindgren

 Oleg Kononenko

Kimiya Yui 

For information on current mission, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/index.html

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MISSIONS: STS MISSIONS AND CREWS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 

ISS Flight

2A

STS-88

Endeavour

ISS Flight

3A

STS-92

Discovery

ISS Flight

2A.1

STS-96

Discovery

ISS Flight

4A

STS-97

Endeavour

ISS Flight

2A.2a

STS-101

Atlantis

ISS Flight

5A

STS-98

Atlantis

ISS Flight

2A.2b

STS-106

Atlantis

ISS Flight

5A.1

STS-102

Discovery

Launched

December 4, 1998

Landed

December 15, 1998

12 days

Launched

October 11, 2000

Landed

October 24, 2000

13 days

Launched

May 27, 1999

Landed

June 6, 1999

10 days

Launched

November 30, 2000

Landed

December 11, 2000

11 days

Launched

May 19, 2000

Landed

May 29, 2000

10 days

Launched

February 7, 2001

Landed

February 20, 2001

13 days

Launched

September 8, 2000

Landed

September 20, 2000

12 days

Launched

March 8, 2001

Landed

March 21, 2001

12 days

 Robert D. Cabana

 Frederick W. Sturckow

 Nancy J. Currie

 Jerry L. Ross

 James H. Newman

Sergei Krikalev

Brian Duffy

Pamela A. Melroy

Leroy Chiao

William S. McArthur

Peter J. K. Wisoff

Michael E. Lopez-Alegria

Koichi Wakata

 Kent V. Rominger

 Rick D. Husband

 Tamara E. Jernigan

 Ellen L. Ochoa

 Daniel T. Barry

Julie Payette

 Valery Tokarev

 Brent W. Jett

 Michael J. Bloomfield

 Joseph R. Tanner

 Carlos I. Noriega

 Marc Garneau

 James D. Halsell

 Scott J. Horowitz

 Mary E. Weber

 Jeffrey N. Williams

 James S. Voss

 Susan J. Helms

 Yury Usachev

 Kenneth D. Cockrell

 Mark L. Polansky

 Robert L. Curbeam

 Marsha S. Ivins

 Thomas D. Jones

Terrence W. Wilcutt

Scott D. Altman

Edward T. Lu

Richard A. Mastracchio

Daniel C. Burbank

Yuri Malenchenko

Boris Morukov

James D. Wetherbee

James M. Kelly

Paul W. Richards

Andrew S. W. Thomas

Yury Usachev

James S. Voss

Susan J. Helms

STS Missions and Crews

Space Shuttle Missions to the ISS

TANNER

GA

NOR EI

BLOOMFIELD JETT GARNEAU

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ISS Flight

6A

STS-100

Endeavour

ISS Flight

8A

STS-110

Atlantis

ISS Flight

7A

STS-104

Atlantis

ISS Flight

UF-2

STS-111

Endeavour

ISS Flight

7A.1

STS-105

Discovery

ISS Flight

9A

STS-112

Atlantis

ISS Flight

UF-1

STS-108

Endeavour

ISS Flight

11A

STS-113

Endeavour

Launched

April 19, 2001

Landed

May 1, 2001

12 days

Launched

April 8, 2002

Landed

April 19, 2002

11 days

Launched

July 12, 2001

Landed

July 24, 2001

13 days

Launched

June 5, 2002

Landed

June 19, 2002

11 days

Launched

August 10, 2001

Landed

August 22, 2001

10 days

Launched

October 7, 2002

Landed

October 18, 2002

11 days

Launched

December 5, 2001

Landed

December 17, 2001

12 days

Launched

November 23, 2002

Landed

December 7, 2002

14 days

 Kent V. Rominger

 Jeffrey S. Ashby

 John L. Phillips

 Scott E. Parazynski

Chris A. Hadfield

Umberto Guidoni

 Yuri Lonchakov

Michael J. Bloomfield

Stephen N. Frick

Jerry L. Ross

Steven L. Smith

Ellen L. Ochoa

Lee M. E. Morin

Rex J. Walheim

 Steven W. Lindsey

 Charles O. Hobaugh

 Michael L. Gernhardt

 Janet L. Kavandi

 James F. Reilly

Kenneth D. Cockrell

Paul S. Lockhart

Franklin R. Chang-Diaz

Philippe Perrin

Valery Korzun

Sergei Treshchev

Peggy A. Whitson

 Scott J. Horowitz

 Frederick W. Sturckow

 Daniel T. Barry

 Patrick G. Forrester

 Frank L. Culbertson

 Mikhail Tyurin

 Vladimir Dezhurov

 Jeffrey S. Ashby

 Pamela A. Melroy

 David A. Wolf

 Sandra H. Magnus

 Piers J. Sellers

Fyodor Yurchikhin

 Dominic L. Pudwill Gorie

 Mark E. Kelly

 Linda M. Godwin

 Daniel M. Tani

 Yuri Onufrienko

 Carl E. Walz

 Daniel W. Bursch

 James D. Wetherbee

 Paul S. Lockhart

 Michael E. Lopez-Alegria

 John B. Herrington

 Kenneth D. Bowersox

 Donald R. Pettit

Nikolai Budarin

6A 100

7 A

KAVANDI

GERNHARDT

HOBAUGH

REILLY

LINDSEY

uI

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MISSIONS: STS MISSIONS AND CREWS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 

ISS Flight

LF1

STS-114

Discovery

ISS Flight

13A

STS-117

Atlantis

ISS Flight

ULF1.1

STS-121

Discovery

ISS Flight

13A.1

STS-118

Endeavour

ISS Flight

12A

STS-115

Atlantis

ISS Flight

10A

STS-120

Discovery

ISS Flight

12A.1

STS-116

Discovery

ISS Flight

1E

STS-122

Atlantis

Launched

July 26, 2005

Landed

August 9, 2005

14 days

Launched

June 8, 2007

Landed

June 22, 2007

13 days

Launched

July 4, 2006

Landed

July 17, 2006

13 days

Launched

August 8, 2007

Landed

August 21, 2007

13 days

Launched

September 9, 2006

Landed

September 21, 2006

12 days

Launched

October 23, 2007

Landed

Novemeber 7, 2007

15 days

Launched

December 9, 2009

Landed

December 22, 2009

13 days

Launched

February 7, 2008

Landed

February 20, 2008

13 days

 Eileen M. Collins

 James M. Kelly

 Stephen K. Robinson

 Andrew S. W. Thomas

 Wendy B. Lawrence

 Charles J. Camarda

Soichi Noguchi

Frederick W. Sturckow

Lee J. Archambault

Patrick G. Forrester

Steven R. Swanson

John D. Olivas

James F. Reilly

Clayton C. Anderson

 Steven W. Lindsey

 Mark E. Kelly

 Michael E. Fossum

 Lisa M. Nowak

 Stephanie D. Wilson

 Piers J. Sellers

 Thomas Reiter

 Scott J. Kelly

 Charles O. Hobaugh

 Tracy E. Caldwell Dyson

 Richard A. Mastracchio

 Barbara R. Morgan

 Benjamin A. Drew

 Dafydd R. Williams

 Brent W. Jett

 Christopher J. Ferguson

 Daniel C. Burbank

 Heidemarie M. 

 Stefanyshyn-Piper

 Joseph R. Tanner

Steven G. MacLean

 Pamela A. Melroy

 George D. Zamka

 Scott E. Parazynski

 Stephanie D. Wilson

 Douglas H. Wheelock

 Paolo Nespoli

 Daniel M. Tani

 Mark L. Polansky

 William A. Oefelein

 Nicholas J. M. Patrick

 Robert L. Curbeam

 Joan E. Higginbotham

 Christer Fuglesang

 Sunita L. Williams

 Stephen N. Frick

 Alan G. Poindexter

 Leland D. Melvin

 Rex J. Walheim

 Stanley G. Love

 Hans Schlegel

 Léopold Eyharts

122 1E

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ISS Flight

1J/A

STS-123

Endeavour

ISS Flight

2J/A

STS-127

Endeavour

ISS Flight

1J

STS-124

Discovery

ISS Flight

17A

STS-128

Discovery

ISS Flight

ULF2

STS-126

Endeavour

ISS Flight

ULF3

STS-129

Atlantis

ISS Flight

15A

STS-119

Discovery

ISS Flight

20A

STS-130

Endeavour

Launched

March 11, 2008

Landed

March 26, 2008

15 days

Launched

July 15, 2009

Landed

July 31, 2009

16 days

Launched

May 31, 2008

Landed

June 14, 2008

14 days

Launched

August 28, 2009

Landed

September 11, 2009

14 days

Launched

November 14, 2008

Landed

Novemeber 30, 2008

16 days

Launched

November 16, 2009

Landed

November 27, 2009

11 days

Launched

March 15, 2009

Landed

March 28, 2009

13 days

Launched

February 8, 2010

Landed

February 21, 2010

13 days

 Dominic L. Pudwill Gorie

 Gregory H. Johnson

 Robert L. Behnken

 Michael J. Foreman

 Richard M. Linnehan

Takao Doi

 Garrett E. Reisman

Mark L. Polansky

Douglas G. Hurley

Christopher J. Cassidy

Thomas H. Marshburn

David A. Wolf

Julie Payette

Timothy L. Kopra

 Mark E. Kelly

 Kenneth T. Ham

 Karen L. Nyberg

 Ronald J. Garan

 Michael E. Fossum

Akihiko Hoshide

 Gregory E. Chamitoff

Frederick W. Sturckow

Kevin A. Ford

Patrick G. Forrester

Jose M. Hernández

John D. Olivas

Christer Fuglesang

Nicole P. Stott

 Christopher J. Ferguson

 Eric A. Boe

 Donald R. Pettit

 Stephen G. Bowen

 Heidemarie M. 

 Stefanyshyn-Piper

 Robert S. Kimbrough

 Sandra H. Magnus

 Charles O. Hobaugh

 Barry E. Wilmore

 Michael J. Foreman

 Randolph J. Bresnik

 Leland D. Melvin

 Robert L. Satcher

 Lee J. Archambault

 Dominic A. Antonelli

 Joseph M. Acaba

 Steven R. Swanson

 Richard R. Arnold

 John L. Phillips

Koichi Wakata

 George D. Zamka

 Terry W. Virts

 Kathryn P. Hire

 Stephen K. Robinson

 Nicholas J. M. Patrick

 Robert L. Behnken

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MISSIONS: STS MISSIONS AND CREWS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 

ISS Flight

19A

STS-131

Discovery

ISS Flight

ULF7

STS-135

Atlantis

ISS Flight

ULF4

STS-132

Atlantis

ISS Flight

ULF5

STS-133

Discovery

ISS Flight

ULF6

STS-134

Endeavour

Launched

April 5, 2010

Landed

April 20, 2010

15 days

Launched

July 8, 2011

Landed

July 21, 2011

13 days

Launched

May 14, 2010

Landed

May 26, 2010

11 days

Launched

February 24, 2011

Landed

March 9, 2011

13 days

Launched

May 16, 2011

Landed

June 1, 2011

16 days

 Alan G. Poindexter

 James P. Dutton

 Richard A. Mastracchio

 Clayton C. Anderson

 Dorothy M. Metcalf- 

 Lindenburger

 Stephanie D. Wilson

Naoko Yamazaki

Christopher J. Ferguson

Douglas G. Hurley

Sandra H. Magnus

Rex J. Walheim

 Kenneth T. Ham

 Dominic A. Antonelli

 Stephen G. Bowen

 Michael T. Good

 Piers J. Sellers

 Garrett E. Reisman

 Steven W. Lindsey

 Eric A. Boe

 Benjamin A. Drew

 Michael R. Barratt

 Stephen G. Bowen

 Nicole P. Stott

 Mark E. Kelly

 Gregory H. Johnson

 Michael Fincke

 Gregory E. Chamitoff

 Andrew J. Feustel

Roberto Vittori

S T S 13 5

M AG N U S WA L H E I M

F E R G U S O N H U R L E Y

BOWEN REISMAN HAM ANTONELLI GOOD SELLERS

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MISSIONS: SOYUZ ISS MISSIONS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 101

ISS Flight

2R

Soyuz 

TM-31

ISS Flight

6S

Soyuz 

TMA-2

ISS Flight

2S

Soyuz 

TM-32

ISS Flight

7S

Soyuz 

TMA-3

ISS Flight

3S

Soyuz 

TM-33

ISS Flight

8S

Soyuz 

TMA-4

ISS Flight

4S

Soyuz 

TM-34

ISS Flight

5S

Soyuz 

TMA-1

ISS Flight

9S

Soyuz 

TMA-5

ISS Flight

10S

Soyuz 

TMA-6

Launched

October 31, 2000

Undocked

May 6, 2001

186 days

Launched

April 28, 2001

Undocked

October 31, 2001 

186 days

Launched

April 26, 2003

Undocked

October 27, 2003

185 days

Launched

October 21, 2001

Undocked

May 5, 2002

196 days

Launched

October 18, 2003

Undocked

April 29, 2004

192 days

Launched

April 25, 2002

Undocked

November 9, 2002

198 days

Launched

April 19, 2004

Undocked

October 23, 2004

187 days

Launched

April 15, 2005

Undocked

October 10, 2005

180 days

Launched

October 14, 2004

Undocked

April 24, 2005

193 days

 Yuri Gidzenko

 Sergei Krikalev

 William M. Shepherd

 Talgat Musabayev

 Yuri Baturin

 Dennis A. Tito (SFP)

Yuri Malenchenko

Edward T. Lu

 Viktor Afanasyev

 Konstantin Kozeyev

Claudie Haigneré

Alexander Kaleri

 Michael Foale

 Pedro Duque

 Yuri Gidzenko

Roberto Vittori

 Mark Shuttleworth (SFP)

Gennady Padalka

 Michael Fincke

 André Kuipers

Sergei Krikalev

 John L. Phillips

Roberto Vittori

Salizhan Sharipov

 Leroy Chiao

Yuri Shargin

Launched

October 20, 2002

Undocked

May 3, 2003

186 days

 Sergei Zalyotin

 Yuri Lonchakov

 Frank De Winne

Soyuz ISS Missions
102 MISSIONS: SOYUZ ISS MISSIONS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

ISS Flight

11S

Soyuz 

TMA-7

ISS Flight

16S

Soyuz 

TMA-12

ISS Flight

12S

Soyuz 

TMA-8

ISS Flight

17S

Soyuz 

TMA-13

ISS Flight

13S

Soyuz 

TMA-9

ISS Flight

18S

Soyuz 

TMA-14

ISS Flight

14S

Soyuz 

TMA-10

ISS Flight

15S

Soyuz 

TMA-11

ISS Flight

19S

Soyuz 

TMA-15

ISS Flight

20S

Soyuz 

TMA-16

Launched

October 1, 2005

Undocked

April 8, 2006

190 days

Launched

March 30, 2006

Undocked

September 28, 2006 

182 days

Launched

April 8, 2008

Undocked

October 24, 2008

199 days

Launched

September 18, 2006

Undocked

April 21, 2007

215 days

Launched

October 12, 2008

Undocked

April 8, 2009

178 days

Launched

April 7, 2007

Undocked

October 21, 2007

196 days

Launched

March 26, 2009

Undocked

October 11, 2009

199 days

Launched

September 30, 2009

Undocked

March 18, 2010

169 days

Launched

May 27, 2009

Undocked

December 1, 2009

188 days

 Valery Tokarev

William S. McArthur

Gregory H. Olsen (SFP)

 Pavel Vinogradov

Jeffrey N. Williams

 Marcos Pontes (SFP)

Sergei Volkov

Oleg Kononenko

Yi So Yeon (SFP)

 Mikhail Tyurin

Michael E. Lopez-Alegria

/ Anousheh Ansari (SFP)

Yuri Lonchakov

 Michael Fincke

 Richard A. Garriott (SFP)

 Oleg Kotov

 Fyodor Yurchikhin

/ Charles Simonyi (SFP)

Gennady Padalka

 Michael R. Barratt

 / Charles Simonyi (SFP)

Maksim Surayev

 Jeffrey N. Williams

 Guy Laliberté (SFP)

Roman Romanenko

 Frank de Winne

 Robert B. Thirsk

Launched

October 11, 2007

Undocked

April 19, 2008

191 days

 Yuri Malenchenko

Peggy A. Whitson

Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor

(SFP)
MISSIONS: SOYUZ ISS MISSIONS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 103

ISS Flight

21S

Soyuz 

TMA-17

ISS Flight

26S

Soyuz 

TMA-21

ISS Flight

22S

Soyuz 

TMA-18

ISS Flight

27S

Soyuz 

TMA-02M

ISS Flight

23S

Soyuz 

TMA-19

ISS Flight

28S

Soyuz 

TMA-22

ISS Flight

24S

Soyuz 

TMA-01M

ISS Flight

25S

Soyuz 

TMA-20

ISS Flight

29S

Soyuz 

TMA-03M

ISS Flight

30S

Soyuz 

TMA-04M

Launched

December 20, 2009

Undocked

June 2, 2010

164 days

Launched

April 2, 2010

Undocked

September 25, 2010 

176 days

Launched

April 4, 2011

Undocked

September 16, 2011

164 Days

Launched

June 15, 2010

Undocked

Novemeber 26, 2010

163 days

Launched

October 12, 2008

Undocked

April 8, 2009

166 Days

Launched

October 7, 2010

Undocked

March 16, 2011

159 Days

Launched

November 14, 2011

Undocked

April 27, 2012

165 Days

Launched

May 15, 2012

Undocked

September 17, 2012

124 Days

Launched

December 21, 2011

Undocked

July 1, 2012

192 Days

Oleg Kotov

Timothy J. Creamer

Soichi Noguchi

Aleksandr Skvortsov

Mikhail Korniyenko

Tracy E. Caldwell Dyson

Aleksandr Samokutyayev

Andrei Borisenko

 Ronald J. Garan

Fyodor Yurchikhin

Douglas H. Wheelock

Shannon Walker

Sergey Volkov

 Michael E. Fossum

Satoshi Furukawa

 Alexander Kaleri

 Oleg Skripochka

Scott J. Kelly

Anton Shkaplerov

Anatoli Ivanishin

 Daniel C. Burbank

Gennady Padalka

Sergei Revin

 Joseph M. Acaba

Oleg Kononenko

 Donald R. Pettit

 André Kuipers

Launched

December 15, 2010

Undocked

May 23, 2011

159 Days

 Dimitri Kondratyev

Catherine G. Coleman

 Paolo Nespoli
104 MISSIONS: SOYUZ ISS MISSIONS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

ISS Flight

31S

Soyuz 

TMA-05M

ISS Flight

36S

Soyuz 

TMA-10M

ISS Flight

32S

Soyuz 

TMA-06M

ISS Flight

37S

Soyuz 

TMA-11M

ISS Flight

33S

Soyuz 

TMA-07M

ISS Flight

38S

Soyuz 

TMA-12M

ISS Flight

34S

Soyuz 

TMA-08M

ISS Flight

35S

Soyuz 

TMA-09M

ISS Flight

39S

Soyuz 

TMA-13M

ISS Flight

40S

Soyuz 

TMA-14M

Launched

July 15, 2012

Undocked

November 18, 2012

126 Days

Launched

October 23, 2012

Undocked

March 15, 2013 

143 Days

Launched

September 25, 2013

Undocked

March 11, 2014

166 Days

Launched

December 19, 2012

Undocked

May 13, 2013

145 Days

Launched

November 7, 2013

Undocked

May 13, 2014

187 Days

Launched

March 28, 2013

Undocked

September 11, 2013

166 Days

Launched

March 25, 2014

Undocked

September 11, 2014

169 Days

Launched

September 25, 2014

Undocked

May 12, 2015

167 Days

Launched

May 28, 2014

Undocked

November 10, 2014

165 Days

Yuri Malenchenko

Sunita L. Williams

Akihiko Hoshide

Oleg Novitskiy

Evgeny Tarelkin

Kevin A. Ford

Oleg Kotov

Sergey Ryazansky

 Michael S. Hopkins

Roman Romanenko

Thomas H. Marshburn

Chris A. Hadfield

Mikhail Tyurin

 Richard A. Mastracchio

Koichi Wakata

Pavel Vinogradov

Aleksandr Misurkin

Christopher J. Cassidy

Aleksandr Skvortsov

Oleg Artemyev

 Steven R. Swanson

Aleksandr Samokutyayev

Yelena Serova

 Barry E. Wilmore

Maksim Surayev

 Gregory R. Wiseman

 Alexander Gerst

Launched

May 28, 2013

Undocked

November 10, 2013

166 Days

 Fyodor Yurchikhin

Karen L. Nyberg

 Luca Parmitano
MISSIONS: SOYUZ ISS MISSIONS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 105

ISS Flight

41S

Soyuz 

TMA-15M

ISS Flight

42S

Soyuz 

TMA-16M

Launched

November 23, 2014

Undocked

TBD

Launched

March 27, 2015

Undocked

TBD

Anton Shkaplerov

 Samantha Cristoforetti

Terry W. Virts

Gennady Padalka

Mikhail Korniyenko

 Scott J. Kelly
106 MISSIONS: UNMANNED ISS MISSIONS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

Spacecraft Launch date ISS Flight Number Deorbit

Progress M1-3 6 August 2000 ISS-1P 1 November 2000

Progress M1-4 16 November 2000 ISS-2P 8 February 2000

Progress M-44 26 February 2001 ISS-3P 16 April 2001

Progress M1-6 20 May 2001 ISS-4P 22 August 2001

Progress M-45 21 August 2001 ISS-5P 22 November 2001

Progress M-SO1 14 September 2001 ISS-4R 26 September 2001

Progress M1-7 26 November 2001 ISS-6P 20 March 2001

Progress M1-8 21 March 2002 ISS-7P 25 June 2002

Progress M-46 26 June 2002 ISS-8P 14 October 2002

Progress M1-9 25 September 2002 ISS-9P 1 February 2002

Progress M-47 2 February 2003 ISS-10P 28 August 2003

Progress M1-10 8 June 2003 ISS-11P 3 October 2003

Progress M-48 29 August 2003 ISS-12P 28 January 2004

Progress M1-11 29 January 2004 ISS-13P 3 June 2004

Progress M-49 25 May 2004 ISS-14P 30 July 2004

Progress M-50 11 August 2004 ISS_15P 22 December 2004

Progress M-51 23 December 2004 ISS-16P 9 March 2005

Progress M-52 28 February 2005 ISS-17P 16 June 2005

Progress M-53 16 June 2005 ISS-18P 7 September 2005

Progress M-54 8 September 2005 ISS-19P 3 March 2006

Progress M-55 21 December 2005 ISS-20P 19 June 2006

Progress M-56 24 April 2006 ISS-21P 19 September 2006

Progress M-57 24 June 2006 ISS-22P 17 January 2007

Progress M-58 23 October 2006 ISS-23P 27 March 2007

Progress M-59 18 January 2007 ISS-24P 1 August 2007

Progress M-60 12 May 2007 ISS-25P 25 September 2007

Progress M-61 2 August 2007 ISS-26P 22 January 2008

Progress M-62 23 December 2007 ISS-27P 15 February 2008

Progress M-63 5 February 2008 ISS-28P 7 April 2008

ATV 9 March 2008 ISS-ATV1 5 September 2008

Progress M-64 14 May 2008 ISS-29P 8 September 2008

Progress M-65 10 September 2008 ISS-30P 8 December 2008

Progress M-01M 26 November 2008 ISS-31P 8 February 2009

Progress M-66 10 February 2009 ISS-32P 18 May 2009

Progress M-02M 7 May 2009 ISS-33P 13 July 2009

Progress M-67 24 July 2009 ISS-34P 27 September 2009

HTV 10 September 2009 ISS-HTV1 30 October 2009

Progress M-03M 15 October 2009 ISS-35P 27 April 2010

Progress M-MIM2 10 November 2009 ISS-5R 8 December 2009

Unmanned ISS Missions
MISSIONS: UNMANNED ISS MISSIONS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 107

Spacecraft Launch date ISS Flight Number Deorbit

Progress M-04M 3 February 2010 ISS-36P 1 July 2010

Progress M-05M 28 April 2010 ISS-37P 15 November 2010

Progress M-06M 30 June 2010 ISS-38P 6 September 2010

Progress M-07M 10 September 2010 ISS-39P 20 February 2011

Progress M-08M 27 October 2010 ISS-40P 24 January 2011

HTV 22 January 2011 ISS-HTV2 28 March 2011

Progress M-09M 28 January 2011 ISS-41P 26 April 2011

ATV 16 February 2011 ISS-ATV2 20 June 2011

Progress M-10M 27 April 2011 ISS-42P 29 October 2011 

Progress M-11M 21 June 2011 ISS-43P 1 September 2011

Progress M-12M 24 August 2011 ISS-44P ISS-44P. Failed to orbit; 

premature third stage cutoff, 

impacted in the Choisk Region 

of Russia's Altai Republic.

Progress M-13M 30 October 2011 ISS-45P 25 January 2012

Progress M-14M 25 January 2012 ISS-46P 28 April 2012

ATV 23 march 2012 ISS-ATV3 28 September 2012

Progress M-15M 20 April 2012 ISS-47P 20 August 2012

SpaceX 22 May 2012 ISS-SpX-D 31 may 2012

HTV 21 July 2012 ISS-HTV3 12 September 2012

Progress M-16M 1 August 2012 ISS-48P 9 February 2013

SpaceX 8 October 2012 ISS-SpX-1 28 October 2012

Progress M-17M 31 October 2012 ISS-49P 21 April 2013

Progress M-18M 11 February 2013 ISS-50P 26 July 2013

SpaceX 1 March 2012 ISS-SpX-2 26 March 2013

Progress M-19M 24 April 2013 ISS-51P 19 June 2013

ATV 5 June 2013 ISS-ATV4 28 October 2012

Progress M-20M 27 July 2013 ISS-52P 11 February 2014

HTV 3 August 2013 ISS-HTV4 4 September 2013

Orbital 18 September 2013 ISS-Orb-D1 22 October 2013

Progress M-21M 25 November 2013 ISS-53P 9 June 2014

Orbital 9 January 2014 ISS-Orb-1 18 February 2014

Progress M-22M 5 February 2014 ISS-54P 18 April 2014

Progress M-23M 9 April 2014 ISS-55P 31 July 2014

SpaceX 18 April 2014 ISS-SpX-3 15 May 2014

Orbital 13 July 2014 ISS-Orb-2 15 August 2014

Progress M-24M 23 July 2014 ISS-56P 19 November 2014

ATV 29 July 2014 ISS-SpX-4 25 October 2014

Orbital 28 October 2014 ISS-Orb-3 Lost on Ascent

Progress M-25M 29 October 2014 ISS-57P 25 April 2015
108 MISSIONS: UNMANNED ISS MISSIONS | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

Spacecraft Launch date ISS Flight Number Deorbit

SpaceX 10 January 2015 ISS-SpX-5 10 February 2015

Progress M-26M 17 February 2015 ISS-58P Planned: 26 August 2015

SpaceX 13 April 2015 ISS-SpX-6 21 May 2015

Progress M-27M 28 April 2015 ISS-59P Failed to Orbit
REFERENCE | REFERENCE | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 109 Reference
110 REFERENCE | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

To Learn More

ONLINE:

International Space Station

www.nasa.gov/station

Station Science

www.nasa.gov/iss-science

Canadian Space Agency (CSA)

http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/iss/

European Space Agency (ESA)

http://www.esa.int/esaHS/iss.html

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/

Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos)

http://knts.rsa.ru/

http://www.energia.ru/english/index.html

SOCIAL MEDIA:

@Space_Station

@ISS_Research

International Space Station

@iss

NASA Johnson Space Center

NASA2Explore

ReelNASA
REFERENCE | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 111

Acronym List

A

ACU Arm Control Unit

aed Automated External defibrillator

a/l Airlock

AMS Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

APFR Articulating Portable Foot Restraint

ARC Ames Research Center

ARED Advanced Resistive Exercise Device

ARIS Active Rack Isolation System

ASI Italian Space Agency

atm Atmosphere

ATV Automated Transfer Vehicle

B

bass-ii Burning and Suppression of Solids - II

BCA Battery Charging Assembly

BCDU Battery Charge Discharge Unit

BioLab Biological Laboratory

bric Biological Research in Canisters

BSA Battery Stowage Assembly

C

c&t Communications & Tracking

c2v2 Common Communications for Visiting Vehicles

C Celsius

cats Cloud-Aerosol Transport System

CBM Common Berthing Mechanism

CDRA Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly

CEPF Columbus External Payload Facility

CEVIS Cycle Ergometer with Vibration Isolation System

cfe Capillary Flow Experiment

CHeCS Crew Health Care System

CIR Combustion Integrated Rack

cm centimeter

CMG Control Moment Gyroscope

cmo Crew Medical Officer

cmtf Canadian MSS Training Facility

CO2 carbon dioxide

COLBERT Combined Operational Load Bearing External 

Resistive Exercise Treadmill

COL-CC Columbus Control Center

CRPCM Canadian Remote Power Controller Module

CRS Commercial Resupply System

CSA Canadian Space Agency

CWC Contingency Water Container

cwqmk Colorimetric Water Quality Monitoring Kit

D

DC Docking Compartment

DC Direct Current

DCSU Direct Current Switching Unit

DDCU DC-to-DC Converter Unit

DECLIC Device for the study of Critical Liquids and 

Crystallization

DRTS Data Relay Test Satellite

E

EAC European Astronaut Centre

EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space 

Company

Earthkam Earth Knowledge-based Acquired by Middle 

Schools

ECLSS Environmental Control and Life Support System

ECU Electronics Control Unit

EDR European Drawer Rack

EF Exposed Facility

EHS Environmental Health System

ELC EXPRESS Logistics Carriers

ELITE-S2 ELaboratore Immagini Televisive-Space 2

elm-es Experiment Logistics Module Exposed Section

ELM-PS Experiment Logistics Module-Pressurized Section

eml Electromagnetic Levitator

EMU Extravehicular Mobility Unit

EPM European Physiology Module

EPS Electrical Power System

ERA European Robotic Arm

ESA European Space Agency

ESTEC European Space Research and Technology Centre

EVA Extravehicular Activity

EXPRESS Expedite the Processing of Experiments to the 

Space Station

F

f Farenheit

FGB Functional Cargo Block

FIR Fluids Integrated Rack

FSL Fluid Science Laboratory

ft foot

ft3 Cubic feet

G

gator Grappling Adaptor to On-Orbit Railing

GCTC Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center

GN&C Guidance, Navigation, and Control

GPS Global Positioning System

GRC Glenn Research Center

GSC Guiana Space Centre

H

H2 hydrogen

H2O water

hdpcg Hand-Held High Density Protein Crystal 

Growth

hico Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean
112 REFERENCE | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

HMS Health Maintenance System

HMS CMRS Health Maintenance System/Crew Medical 

Restraint System

HQ Headquarters

hr hour

HRF Human Research Facility

HRS Heat Rejection Subsystem

HTV H-II Transfer Vehicle

I

ICWS Iodine Compatible Water Containers

IEA Integrated Equipment Assembly

in inch

IPs International Partners

IRU In-Flight Refill Unit

ISPR International Standard Payload Rack

ISS International Space Station

ITS Integrated Truss Structure

IV-TEPC-IV Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter

J

JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

JEF - JEM Exposed Facility

JEM Japanese Experiment Module

JEM-RMS Japanese Experiment Module Remote 

Manipulator System

JLP Japanese Experiment Logistics ModulePressurized Section

JPL Jet Propulsion Laboratory

JPM Japanese Pressurized Module

JSC Johnson Space Center

K

K Kelvin

kg kilogram

km kilometer

kN Kilonewton

KSC Kennedy Space Center

kW kilowatt

L

L liters

lb pound

lbf pound-force

LED Light Emitting Diode

LEO Low-Earth orbit

LiOH Lithium Hydroxide

M

m meter

m3 cubic meter

MARES Muscle Atrophy Research Exercise System

MAS Microbial Air Sampler

Mbps Megabits Per Second

MBS Mobile Base System

MBSU Main Bus Switching Unit

MCC Mission Control Center

MCC-H Mission Control Center-Houston

MELFI Minus Eighty-Degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS

MERLIN Microgravity Experiment Research Locker/

Incubator

MIL-STD Military Standard

MLM Multi-Purpose Laboratory Module

MMOD Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris

MN Meganewton

MOC MSS Operations Complex

MOTS MSS Operations and Training System

MPLM Multi-Purpose Logistics Module

MRM Mini-Research Module

MSFC Marshall Space Flight Center

MSG Microgravity Sciences Glovebox

MSPR Multipurpose Small Payload Rack

MSRR Materials Science Research Rack

MSS Mobile Servicing System

N

N2 nitrogen

N2O4 nitrogen tetroxide

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NORS Nitrogen/Oxygen Resupply System

O

O2 oxygen

OBSS Orbiter Boom Sensor System

OEC Operations Engineering Centre

OGS Oxygen Generation System

ORU Orbital Replacement Unit

P

PASSAGES Scaling Body-Related Actions in the Absence of 

Gravity 

PCM Pressurized Cargo Module

PDGF Power Data Grapple Fixture

PLSS Primary Life Support Subsystem

PMA Pressurized Mating Adaptor

PMM Permanent Multipurpose Module

POCs Payload Operations Centers

POIC Payload Operations and Integration Center

PS Pressurized Section

PSA Power Supply Assembly

PSI pounds per square inch

PTCS Passive Thermal Control System

PTOC Payload Telescience Science Operations Center

PVTCS Photovoltaic Thermal Control System

PWP Portable Work Post

R

RAM Radiation Area Monitor

RMPSR Remote Multipurpose Support Room

RMS Remote Manipulator System
REFERENCE | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 113

rpm revolutions per minute

RS Russian Segment

RSC Energia S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation 

Energia

RTs Remote Terminals S

SAFER Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue

SARJ Solar (Array) Alpha Rotation Joint

SAW Solar Array Wing

SFOG Solid Fuel Oxygen Generator

SFP Space Flight Participant SLM Sound Level Meter

SM Service Module

SPDM Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator

SPHERES Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, 

Experimental Satellites

SPP Science Power Platform

SS Service Section

SSA Space Suit Assembly

SSK Service Sample Kit

SSP Space Shuttle Program

SSRMS Space Station Remote Manipulator System

SSU Sequential Shunt Unit STEM Sciences, Technology, Engineering and 

Mathematics

STS Shuttle Transport System

TTAS-I Thales Alenia Space Italy TCS Thermal Control System

TDRS Tracking and Data Relay Satellites

TKSC Tsukuba Space Center TNSC Tanegashima Space Center

TOCA Total organic carbon analyzer TSCs Telescience Support Centers

TsUP Moscow Mission Control Center TVIS Treadmill Vibration Isolation System U

U.S. United States UDMH unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine

UHF Ultra High Frequency

USOC User Support and Operation Centers

USOS U.S. On-orbit Segment

VVD

C voltage, direct current

VDU Video Distribution Unit

VHF very high frequency W

WHC Waste Hygiene Compartment WORF Window Observational Research Facility

WPA Water Processing Assembly

WRS Water Recovery System
114 REFERENCE | INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE

Berthing

Mating or linking operations of two spacecraft, 

modules, or elements where an inactive module/

vehicle is placed into the mating interface using 

a Remote Manipulator System

Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM)

The mechanical attachment system used to mate 

and demate International Space Station (ISS) 

pressurized elements providing the structural 

load carrying capability and sealing interface 

that allows the shirtsleeve transfer of people and 

supplies between the habitable modules

Docking

Mating or linking operations of two spacecraft, 

modules, or elements where an active vehicle 

flies into the mating interface under its own 

power

Element

A structural component such as a module or 

truss segment

Expedition

A long-duration crew during a stay on the space 

station

Increment

Period of time from launch of a vehicle rotating 

International Space Station crewmembers to the 

undocking of the return vehicle for that crew

Mission

Flight of a “visiting” Soyuz, or other vehicle not 

permanently attached to the International Space 

Station

Module

An internally pressurized element intended for 

habitation

Nadir

Direction directly below (opposite zenith)

Port

Direction to the left side (opposite starboard)

Rendezvous

Movement of two spacecraft toward one another

Space Flight Participant

Nonprofessional astronaut

Starboard 

Direction to the right side (opposite port)

Zenith

Directly above, opposite nadir

Definitions
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UTILIZATION GUIDE 115

ISS Partners:

United States of America

www.nasa.gov

Canada

www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/default.asp

Japan

www.jaxa.jp/index_e.html

Russian Federation

www.roscosmos.ru

European Space Agency

www.esa.int
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Johnson Space Center

2101 Nasa Pkwy

Houston, TX 77058

www.nasa.gov

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