{"id":532244,"date":"2023-09-29T12:36:49","date_gmt":"2023-09-29T16:36:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?post_type=topic&p=532244"},"modified":"2023-09-29T12:44:50","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T16:44:50","slug":"international-space-station-frequently-asked-questions","status":"publish","type":"topic","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station-frequently-asked-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"International Space Station Frequently Asked Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\" hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\"><div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\"><div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex tablet:display-flex desktop:display-none width-full flex-align-center bg-carbon-90 border-color-carbon-80 color-spacesuit-white\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"hds-secondary-nav-track\"><span>ISS<\/span><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><\/button><div class=\"hds-secondary-nav-track grid-container grid-container-extrawide padding-0 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-2 \"><div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-menu-items\"><nav><ul class=\"usa-nav__primary usa-accordion flex-justify-center margin-0\"><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\">Station Home<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"basic-nav-section-one\"><span>Overview<\/span><svg class=\"hds-desktop-submenu-toggle-icon display-none tablet:display-none desktop:display-block\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><svg class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon display-block tablet:display-block desktop:display-none\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle cx=\"8\" cy=\"8\" r=\"7.5\" fill=\"#0B3D91\" stroke=\"white\"\/><rect x=\"4\" y=\"7.6001\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" fill=\"white\"\/><rect class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon-line-vertical\" x=\"7.59998\" y=\"12\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" transform=\"rotate(-90 7.59998 12)\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><\/button><ul id=\"basic-nav-section-one\" class=\"usa-nav__submenu\" hidden><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/space-station-overview\/\">Station Overview<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/reference\/international-space-station\/\">International Space Station Reference<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/international-space-station-assembly-elements\/\">Station Assembly Elements<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/ground-facilities\/\">Ground Facilities<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/space-station-international-cooperation\/\">International Cooperation<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/space-station-facts-and-figures\/\">Station Facts<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/space-station-visitors-by-country\">Station Visitors<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/space-station-astronaut-record-holders\">Station Record Holders<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/np-2015-05-022-jsc-iss-guide-2015-update-111015-508c.pdf?emrc=59b06a\">Reference Guide to the International Space Station (PDF)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/lg-2023-05-010-jsc-iss-litho-updates.pdf?emrc=247539\">Station Lithograph (PDF)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"basic-nav-section-one\"><span>Station Topics<\/span><svg class=\"hds-desktop-submenu-toggle-icon display-none tablet:display-none desktop:display-block\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><svg class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon display-block tablet:display-block desktop:display-none\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle cx=\"8\" cy=\"8\" r=\"7.5\" fill=\"#0B3D91\" stroke=\"white\"\/><rect x=\"4\" y=\"7.6001\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" fill=\"white\"\/><rect class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon-line-vertical\" x=\"7.59998\" y=\"12\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" transform=\"rotate(-90 7.59998 12)\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><\/button><ul id=\"basic-nav-section-one\" class=\"usa-nav__submenu\" hidden><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/space-station-research-and-technology\/\">Your Orbiting Laboratory<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/expedition-missions-content-list\/\">International Space Station Expeditions<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/space-station-visiting-vehicles\">Visiting Vehicles<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/space-station-spacewalks\/\">Station Spacewalks<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"basic-nav-section-one\"><span>Multimedia<\/span><svg class=\"hds-desktop-submenu-toggle-icon display-none tablet:display-none desktop:display-block\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><svg class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon display-block tablet:display-block desktop:display-none\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle cx=\"8\" cy=\"8\" r=\"7.5\" fill=\"#0B3D91\" stroke=\"white\"\/><rect x=\"4\" y=\"7.6001\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" fill=\"white\"\/><rect class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon-line-vertical\" x=\"7.59998\" y=\"12\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" transform=\"rotate(-90 7.59998 12)\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><\/button><ul id=\"basic-nav-section-one\" class=\"usa-nav__submenu\" hidden><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/space-station-gallery\/\">Space Station Imagery<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLTXQuaxXBKKwtqw9fmVw9YnMKxz6FcmWf\" rel=\"noopener\">Space Station Videos (YouTube)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/international-space-station-news\/\">News Releases<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/spacestation\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Station Blogs<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-page-intro\">\n\t<div class=\"padding-0 bg-spacesuit-white wp-block-nasa-blocks-page-intro\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-page-intro width-full maxw-full padding-y-6 padding-x-4\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container grid-container-block\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-4 margin-bottom-3 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-none desktop:display-block margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-18\">Frequently Asked Questions About\u00a0<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"heading-41\"><strong>The International Space Station<\/strong><\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-lg margin-0 margin-bottom-2\">The\u202fInternational Space Station\u202fProgram brings together international flight crews, multiple launch vehicles, globally distributed launch, operations, training, engineering, and development facilities, communications networks, and the international scientific research community.\u00a0Launched in 1998 and involving the U.S., Russia, Canada, Japan, and the participating countries of the European Space Agency \u2014 the International Space Station is one of the most complex international collaborations ever attempted.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-left-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-lg flex-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-6 margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#q1\" class=\"display-flex line-height-sm color-carbon-black text-no-underline flex-align-center border-bottom-1px border-color-carbon-30-important padding-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Who operates the ISS?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" width=\"8\" height=\"10\" viewBox=\"0 0 8 10\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M3.40281 4.46225e-07L3.40281 7.87725L0.836149 5.47479L4.90799e-07 6.25727L4 10L8 6.25727L7.16385 5.47479L4.59719 7.87725L4.59719 6.0285e-07L3.40281 4.46225e-07Z\" fill=\"black\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-6 margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#q2\" class=\"display-flex line-height-sm color-carbon-black text-no-underline flex-align-center border-bottom-1px border-color-carbon-30-important padding-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>What are some examples of how the ISS is interdependent?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" width=\"8\" height=\"10\" viewBox=\"0 0 8 10\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M3.40281 4.46225e-07L3.40281 7.87725L0.836149 5.47479L4.90799e-07 6.25727L4 10L8 6.25727L7.16385 5.47479L4.59719 7.87725L4.59719 6.0285e-07L3.40281 4.46225e-07Z\" fill=\"black\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-6 margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#q3\" class=\"display-flex line-height-sm color-carbon-black text-no-underline flex-align-center border-bottom-1px border-color-carbon-30-important padding-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>What areas of Earth does the ISS fly over?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" width=\"8\" height=\"10\" viewBox=\"0 0 8 10\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M3.40281 4.46225e-07L3.40281 7.87725L0.836149 5.47479L4.90799e-07 6.25727L4 10L8 6.25727L7.16385 5.47479L4.59719 7.87725L4.59719 6.0285e-07L3.40281 4.46225e-07Z\" fill=\"black\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-6 margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#q4\" class=\"display-flex line-height-sm color-carbon-black text-no-underline flex-align-center border-bottom-1px border-color-carbon-30-important padding-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Can astronauts fly to the ISS on one type of spacecraft and return on a different one?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" width=\"8\" height=\"10\" viewBox=\"0 0 8 10\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M3.40281 4.46225e-07L3.40281 7.87725L0.836149 5.47479L4.90799e-07 6.25727L4 10L8 6.25727L7.16385 5.47479L4.59719 7.87725L4.59719 6.0285e-07L3.40281 4.46225e-07Z\" fill=\"black\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-6 margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#q5\" class=\"display-flex line-height-sm color-carbon-black text-no-underline flex-align-center border-bottom-1px border-color-carbon-30-important padding-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Do NASA and Roscosmos always need its astronauts or cosmonauts on the ISS?\u00a0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" width=\"8\" height=\"10\" viewBox=\"0 0 8 10\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M3.40281 4.46225e-07L3.40281 7.87725L0.836149 5.47479L4.90799e-07 6.25727L4 10L8 6.25727L7.16385 5.47479L4.59719 7.87725L4.59719 6.0285e-07L3.40281 4.46225e-07Z\" fill=\"black\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-6 margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#q6\" class=\"display-flex line-height-sm color-carbon-black text-no-underline flex-align-center border-bottom-1px border-color-carbon-30-important padding-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>How is the attitude and altitude controlled and can any current functions be replaced or upgraded?\u00a0 <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" width=\"8\" height=\"10\" viewBox=\"0 0 8 10\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M3.40281 4.46225e-07L3.40281 7.87725L0.836149 5.47479L4.90799e-07 6.25727L4 10L8 6.25727L7.16385 5.47479L4.59719 7.87725L4.59719 6.0285e-07L3.40281 4.46225e-07Z\" fill=\"black\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-6 margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#q7\" class=\"display-flex line-height-sm color-carbon-black text-no-underline flex-align-center border-bottom-1px border-color-carbon-30-important padding-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>How long do all the ISS partners plan to operate the complex?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" width=\"8\" height=\"10\" viewBox=\"0 0 8 10\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M3.40281 4.46225e-07L3.40281 7.87725L0.836149 5.47479L4.90799e-07 6.25727L4 10L8 6.25727L7.16385 5.47479L4.59719 7.87725L4.59719 6.0285e-07L3.40281 4.46225e-07Z\" fill=\"black\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-6 margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#q8\" class=\"display-flex line-height-sm color-carbon-black text-no-underline flex-align-center border-bottom-1px border-color-carbon-30-important padding-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>How will NASA and Roscosmos safely deorbit the ISS after its planned decommissioning?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" width=\"8\" height=\"10\" viewBox=\"0 0 8 10\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M3.40281 4.46225e-07L3.40281 7.87725L0.836149 5.47479L4.90799e-07 6.25727L4 10L8 6.25727L7.16385 5.47479L4.59719 7.87725L4.59719 6.0285e-07L3.40281 4.46225e-07Z\" fill=\"black\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-image-carousel grid-container grid-container-block padding-top-8 padding-bottom-8 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-image-carousel\">\t\t<div class=\"hds-carousel-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image-carousel-slider margin-0\" id=\"image-carousel-slider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-block width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"437\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/s119-e-008343.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Backdropped by the blackness of space and Earth's horizon, the International Space Station is seen from Space Shuttle Discovery as the two spacecraft begin their relative separation. Earlier the STS-119 and Expedition 18 crews concluded 9 days, 20 hours and 10 minutes of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 2:53 p.m. (CDT) on March 25, 2009.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/s119-e-008343.jpg 4288w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/s119-e-008343.jpg?resize=300,205 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/s119-e-008343.jpg?resize=768,525 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/s119-e-008343.jpg?resize=1024,699 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/s119-e-008343.jpg?resize=1536,1049 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/s119-e-008343.jpg?resize=2048,1399 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/s119-e-008343.jpg?resize=400,273 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/s119-e-008343.jpg?resize=600,410 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/s119-e-008343.jpg?resize=900,615 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/s119-e-008343.jpg?resize=1200,820 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/s119-e-008343.jpg?resize=2000,1366 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Backdropped by the blackness of space and Earth’s horizon, the International Space Station is seen from Space Shuttle Discovery as the two spacecraft begin their relative separation. Earlier the STS-119 and Expedition 18 crews concluded 9 days, 20 hours and 10 minutes of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 2:53 p.m. (CDT) on March 25, 2009.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-carousel-nav display-flex margin-left-auto margin-right-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<button class=\"hds-carousel-nav-arrow hds-carousel-arrow-prev\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"9px\" height=\"9px\" viewBox=\"0 0 9 9\"><path class=\"st0\" d=\"M3.5,4.5l3.7-3.6L6.3,0L1.8,4.5L6.3,9l0.9-0.9L3.5,4.5z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<button class=\"hds-carousel-nav-arrow hds-carousel-arrow-next margin-right-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"9px\" height=\"9px\" viewBox=\"0 0 9 9\"><path class=\"st0\" d=\"M5.5,4.5L1.8,8.1L2.7,9l4.5-4.5L2.7,0L1.8,0.9L5.5,4.5z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"q1\"><strong>Who operates the International Space Station?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Five partner agencies (the Canadian Space Agency, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the State Space Corporation \u201cRoscosmos\u201d) operate the International Space Station, with each partner responsible for managing and controlling the hardware it provides. The station was designed to be interdependent and relies on contributions from across the partnership to function. No one partner currently has the capability to function without the other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The space station was not designed to be disassembled, and current interdependencies between each segment of the station prevent the U.S. Orbital Segment and Russian Segment from operating independently. Attempts to detach the U.S. Orbital Segment and the Russian Segment would encounter major logistical and safety challenges given the multitude of external and internal connections, the need to control spacecraft attitude and altitude, and software interdependency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"q2\"><strong>What are some examples of how the International Space Station is interdependent?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Examples include:\u00a0<ul><li>Russia provides all of the propulsion for International Space Station used for station reboost, attitude control, debris avoidance maneuvers and eventual de-orbit operations by the Russian Segment, Russian propulsion systems, and Progress resupply cargo spacecraft. <\/li><li>Propellant for thrusters on the Russian Segment is supplied by Russian Progress cargo spacecraft. <\/li><li>The U.S. gyroscopes provide day-to-day attitude control to control the orientation of the station. Russian thrusters are used for attitude control during dynamic events, like spacecraft dockings, and provide attitude control recovery when the gyroscopes reach their control limits. <\/li><li>Power from the U.S. solar arrays is transferred to the Russian Segment to augment their power needs. <\/li><li>NASA\u2019s Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS) provide communications and data transfer capability between the ground and the entire station, with some additional, less-continuous capability through Russian ground stations and satellites. <\/li><\/ul><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"q3\"><strong>What areas of Earth does the International Space Station fly over?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The International Space Station orbits with an inclination of 51.6 degrees. This means that, as it orbits, the farthest north and south of the Equator it will ever go is 51.6 degrees latitude. An\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/eol.jsc.nasa.gov\/Tools\/orbitTutorial.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">explanation and visuals<\/a>\u202fof the space station orbit is available online. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/spotthestation.nasa.gov\/home.cfm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spot The Station<\/a>\u202fpage, you can enter a country or region to watch the International Space Station pass overhead from several thousand worldwide locations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"q4\"><strong>Can astronauts fly to the International Space Station on one type of spacecraft and return on a different one?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Astronauts typically launch and return in the same type of spacecraft (i.e., Crew Dragon or Soyuz). \u202fEach astronaut has custom hardware including a launch and entry suit or a seat liner that is not interchangeable between different models of spacecraft. A crew member can launch on one Russian Soyuz and return on a different Soyuz, but transferring them to return on a SpaceX Dragon would require a different launch and entry suit that is custom fitted and created on the ground.\u202fNASA astronaut\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/astronauts\/biographies\/mark-t-vande-hei\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mark Vande Hei<\/a>\u202fhas transferred seat liners between Soyuz spacecraft on his record setting mission. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"q5\"><strong>Do NASA and Roscosmos always need its astronauts or cosmonauts on the International Space Station?<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Operating the space station requires physical, hands-on maintenance by the crew, on both U.S. Operating Segment and the Russian Segment, to ensure systems continue functioning. NASA and Roscosmos crew members are not trained to operate each other\u2019s respective segments without onboard assistance. In failure scenarios on the United States Orbital Segment, only U.S. astronauts are trained to fully respond, either through actions inside the station (e.g., to change out a component) or through spacewalks. The same is true for Russian cosmonauts in failure situations originating on the Russian segment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"q6\"><strong>How is the International Space Station\u2019s attitude and altitude controlled and can any current functions be replaced or upgraded?<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>All International Space Station propulsion is provided by the Russian Segment and Russian cargo spacecraft.\u202f Propulsion is used for station reboost, attitude control, debris avoidance maneuvers and eventual deorbit operations are handled by the Russian Segment and Progress cargo craft. The U.S. gyroscopes provide day-to-day attitude control or controlling the orientation of the station. Russian thrusters are used for attitude control during dynamic events like spacecraft dockings and provide attitude control recovery when the gyroscopes reach their control limits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Northrop Grumman\u2019s Cygnus is the only U.S. commercial spacecraft currently in testing to provide limited capability for future reboosts. This capability relies on the Russian Segment for attitude control during the small reboost. It does not currently have the capability to replace attitude control functions for the space station or carry adequate propellant for long-term sustained operations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Attitude control and propulsive reboost capability is a continuous requirement, which means the space station needs a continuous and steady supply of propulsion spacecraft. Changes to the current propulsion scheme would take considerable new hardware\/software development, and significant time and funding to enact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"q7\"><strong>How long do all the International Space Station partners plan to operate the complex?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA and its international partners have maintained a continuous and productive human presence aboard the International Space Station for more than 21 years. Life extension analysis for the US Segment has been completed through 2028 with no issues that would prevent space station from being further extended.\u202f The United States has committed to extend International Space Station operations through 2030. NASA\u2019s space agency partners have all recommended International Space Station extension through 2030 with approvals pending through their own government processes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"q8\"><strong>How will NASA and Roscosmos safely deorbit the International Space Station after its planned decommissioning?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The primary objective during space station deorbit operations is the safe re-entry of the space station\u2019s structure into an unpopulated area in the ocean as outlined in the agency\u2019s International Space Station\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/nasa-provides-updated-international-space-station-transition-plan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">transition plan<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The space station will accomplish the deorbit maneuvers by using the propulsive capabilities of the space station and its visiting spacecraft. NASA and its partners have evaluated varying quantities of Russian Progress spacecraft to support deorbit operations. Additionally, NASA is evaluating whether U.S. commercial spacecraft can be modified to provide capability to deorbit the space station. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read our International Space Station\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/faqs-the-international-space-station-transition-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">transition plan FAQ page<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>International Space Station<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"853\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg 4343w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg?resize=300,167 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg?resize=768,427 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg?resize=1024,569 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg?resize=1536,853 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg?resize=2048,1137 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg?resize=400,222 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg?resize=600,333 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg?resize=900,500 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg?resize=1200,666 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg?resize=2000,1111 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/benefits-to-humanity\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Benefits to Humanity<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1277\" src=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss036e006524\/iss036e006524~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1277&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss036e006524\/iss036e006524~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1277&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1920w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss036e006524\/iss036e006524~large.jpg?w=300&h=200&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss036e006524\/iss036e006524~large.jpg?w=768&h=511&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss036e006524\/iss036e006524~large.jpg?w=1024&h=681&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss036e006524\/iss036e006524~large.jpg?w=1536&h=1022&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss036e006524\/iss036e006524~large.jpg?w=400&h=266&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss036e006524\/iss036e006524~large.jpg?w=600&h=399&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss036e006524\/iss036e006524~large.jpg?w=900&h=599&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/iss036e006524\/iss036e006524~large.jpg?w=1200&h=798&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/benefits-to-science\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Benefits to Science<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"196\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/04_jsc2023e013681_sofie_gell_flames.jpg?w=320\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/04_jsc2023e013681_sofie_gell_flames.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/04_jsc2023e013681_sofie_gell_flames.jpg?resize=300,184 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Solar System<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/plugins\/nasa-blocks\/assets\/images\/topic-cards\/topic-card-sample-4.jpg\" ><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Who operates the International Space Station? Five partner agencies (the Canadian Space Agency, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the State Space Corporation \u201cRoscosmos\u201d) operate the International Space Station, with each partner responsible for managing and controlling the hardware it provides. The station was designed [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":433,"featured_media":399787,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[]},"categories":[2735],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[12640],"coauthors":[12387,12707],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebPage","headline":"International Space Station Frequently Asked Questions","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station-frequently-asked-questions\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station-frequently-asked-questions\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/s119-e-008343.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/s119-e-008343.jpg"},"articleSection":"Missions","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Yvonne K. McKenna"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Lora V. Bleacher"}],"creator":["Yvonne K. McKenna","Lora V. Bleacher"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["Missions","International Space Station (ISS)"],"dateCreated":"2023-09-29T16:36:49Z","datePublished":"2023-09-29T16:36:49Z","dateModified":"2023-09-29T16:44:50Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"International Space Station Frequently Asked Questions\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station-frequently-asked-questions\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"index\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/s119-e-008343.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2023-09-29T16:36:49Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Missions\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Missions,International Space Station (ISS)\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Yvonne K. McKenna\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Lora V. Bleacher\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":6,"time_ago":"7 months","featured_image":{"id":399787,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/s119-e-008343.jpg","title":"View of the station from Space Shuttle Discovery","alt":"Backdropped by the blackness of space and Earth's horizon, the International Space Station is seen from Space Shuttle Discovery as the two spacecraft begin their relative separation. Earlier the STS-119 and Expedition 18 crews concluded 9 days, 20 hours and 10 minutes of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 2:53 p.m. (CDT) on March 25, 2009.","caption":"Backdropped by the blackness of space and Earth's horizon, the International Space Station is seen from Space Shuttle Discovery as the two spacecraft begin their relative separation. Earlier the STS-119 and Expedition 18 crews concluded 9 days, 20 hours and 10 minutes of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 2:53 p.m. (CDT) on March 25, 2009."},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/532244"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/topic"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/433"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/532244\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":532302,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/532244\/revisions\/532302"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/399787"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=532244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=532244"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=532244"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=532244"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=532244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}