National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

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International Space Station: nasa.gov/station | Station Science: nasa.gov/iss-science | Spot the Station in the night sky: spotthestation.nasa.gov/

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INTRODUCTION

The International Space Station, one of the most ambitious international collaborations 

ever attempted, is a convergence of science, technology, and human innovation that 

provides humanity a one-of-a-kind proving ground for Artemis as we go forward to 

the Moon and on to Mars. It is a demonstration platform for new technologies and a 

research laboratory for breakthroughs not possible on Earth, representing the most 

complex space exploration program ever undertaken.

In the more than two decades that humans have inhabited the space station, we’ve 

used the unique orbiting laboratory to build our understanding of how humans can 

safely live in microgravity, make groundbreaking advancements in medicine, test 

technologies that will help us travel farther into space, gain new insights into our home 

planet, and stimulate an emerging low Earth orbit economy. 

BENEFITS TO 

HUMANITY

THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION 

AT A GLANCE

LIVING AND 

WORKING 

IN SPACE

Station activities and research have led to new products to purify air and 

water in our homes, use of cold plasmas in wound treatment, tracking 

technology for laser-eye surgery, non-invasive temperature monitoring 

of babies in hospitals, and advancements in telemedicine.

Has had a continuous human 

presence since November 2000.

Required a collaborative effort 

by 15 nations to construct.

An astronaut’s usual 

stay aboard the 

orbiting laboratory is 

around six months. 

Astronauts receive 

supplies from 

uncrewed vehicles

provided by various 

countries and 

commercial sources.

A daily two-hour exercise 

program is critical for astronauts 

to counteract the physical effects 

of living in microgravity. Astronauts 

sleep in special 

sleeping bags

secured to the 

wall of their 

personal crew 

quarters.

Over the past 20 years, the space station has evolved from an 

orbiting outpost, where 34 investigations were conducted by 

the first crew, to a capable laboratory with about 300 active 

investigations during each crew rotation.

Astronauts spend 

their time in space 

conducting scientific 

experiments and 

maintaining the 

space station.

Travels at an average altitude 

of about 227 nautical miles 

(420 kilometers) above Earth.

Travels at 

17,500 mph, 

covering the 

equivalent 

distance to the 

Moon and back 

in about a day.

Has seen more than 

3,300 experiments

conducted so far.

Measures 357 feet end-to-end and 

has a mass of nearly 1 million pounds.

New combustion 

discoveries like 

“cool flames”

may help reduce 

engine emissions.

Proteins crystallized on 

the space station have 

aided in development of a 

treatment for Duchenne’s 

Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) 

and is in Phase 3 clinical 

trials.

More than 250 small 

satellites have been 

deployed from station 

since 2013, improving 

Earth-observation 

photography, 

internet access, and 

telecommunication 

services.

In 2019, the station 

was opened for 

commercial 

activities, including 

private astronaut 

missions.

ECOSTRESS data

has been employed 

in efforts to reduce 

heat absorbed by city 

surfaces and help 

farmers efficiently 

water their fields.

Has required more 

than 250 spacewalks

(and counting) for 

assembly, maintenance 

and upgrades. 

Earth 227 nautical

miles

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Several air-quality technologies

developed for the space station 

have been demonstrated to help

reduce the spread of COVID-19.