It was hoped to launch the first part of the ISS, the Russian-built core control module, also known as the Functional Cargo Block or Zarya, in December 1997. But delays in its development pushed the launch date back to November 1998. It finally went up on a Proton rocket and was followed two weeks later by the Unity node carried on the space shuttle. The Zvezda living quarters should have been put up soon after, but once again delays postponed its launch until July 2000. The American astronaut Bill Shepherd, the ISS's first commander, has had to wait 18 months longer than expected to start his job.
Shuttle astronauts armed and ready Links to more Space station stories are at the foot of the page.