The design estimate for the materials for the International Space Station ( ISS ) specified in SSP 30512 was a conservative estimate . The environment dose was over estimated . The materials originally qualified for approximately 10 - 15 years are anticipated to be acceptable for periods of up to 20 - 30 years based on SSP-30512 or 40 - 60 years based on 2x SSP-30512 . This viewgraph presentation shows charts and graphs that review the altitude , the solar minimum and maximum , and the radiation exposure of other satellite , among other graphics .