ISS
The largest structure humans have assembled in space, built from 1998 by the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada, and continuously crewed since November 2000. Its pressurised modules hang from a 94-metre truss carrying the solar arrays and radiators, and it circles the Earth about every 90 minutes at around 400 km. Crews arrive and leave on Soyuz and Crew Dragon, and cargo ships keep it supplied.
Key figures
- Builder
- Boeing, Energia, Khrunichev, Thales Alenia Space, EADS Astrium, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
- Status
- In service
- First flight
- 1998
- Span
- 109 m
- Mass at launch
- 450 t
- Crew
- 7 seats