#AskNASA┃ What is the International Space Station?

Summary

In this #AskNASA video, Jacob Keaton explains the International Space Station (ISS) as humanity's first permanent home in space. Built by 15 countries, the ISS serves as a hub for scientific research, powered entirely by solar energy. The station orbits Earth at 17,500 mph, allowing the crew to see 16 sunrises and sunsets daily. It conducts diverse experiments in microgravity, biology, and space science. NASA plans to leverage the ISS's success to build the Gateway outpost near the Moon and ultimately send missions to Mars, showcasing global collaboration in space exploration.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The International Space Station (ISS) is humanity's first permanent home in space, built by 15 countries and 5 space agencies over a decade.
• 🏠 The ISS is about the size of a five-bedroom house and can house six people in its cylindrical sections.
• 🤖 The ISS is equipped with the Canadarm, a 50-foot robotic arm used to move pieces of the space station like a construction site.
• 🔬 The station hosts multiple labs, including Japanese and European laboratories, where external experiments are exposed to the vacuum of space.
• 🔧 The various components of the ISS were built on Earth but were assembled for the first time in space, functioning perfectly due to teamwork.
• 🔆 The ISS is powered by eight solar arrays, making it an entirely solar-powered vehicle.
• 👁️ Yes, you can see the ISS from Earth! It's the third-brightest object in the sky, visible without a telescope, and looks like a bright moving airplane.
• 🚀 The ISS orbits Earth every 90 minutes at a speed of 17,500 miles per hour, allowing astronauts to witness 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets daily.
• 🧬 Astronauts on the ISS conduct various scientific research, including Earth science, space science, biology, and microgravity experiments.
• 🌌 The ISS serves as a base camp for future exploration, with NASA using lessons learned from it to prepare for the Artemis program, lunar exploration, and eventual missions to Mars.

Q & A

What is the International Space Station (ISS)?

The International Space Station is an orbiting outpost and humanity's first permanent home in space. It was built over the course of a decade by 15 countries and 5 space agencies. The station serves as a research facility and a home for astronauts.

How large is the International Space Station?

The ISS consists of several cylindrical sections, together roughly the size of a five-bedroom house. End-to-end, including its solar arrays, it covers an area similar to a football field.

What is the Canadaarm, and what is its purpose on the ISS?

The Canadaarm is a robotic arm on the ISS, measuring over 50 feet in length. It is capable of moving various parts of the station around like a construction site and plays a crucial role in station maintenance.

How is the ISS powered?

The ISS is powered entirely by solar energy. It has eight large solar arrays that capture sunlight, generating power to keep the station running.

Can people see the ISS from Earth, and how?

Yes, the ISS is visible from Earth and is the third-brightest object in the sky after the Sun and Moon. It looks like a bright, non-flashing airplane moving across the sky. NASA's 'SpotTheStation' website can tell you the best times to view it.

How fast does the ISS move, and how often does it orbit Earth?

The ISS travels at a speed of about 17,500 miles per hour, completing an orbit around Earth every 90 minutes. This allows the crew to witness 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets each day.

What kind of research do astronauts conduct on the ISS?

Astronauts on the ISS conduct research in a variety of fields, including Earth science, space science, microgravity research, and biology. They also study how living in space affects their bodies and the systems needed for longer missions.

How does the ISS help with future space exploration, especially to the Moon and Mars?

The ISS helps scientists and engineers understand how to live and work in space for extended periods. This knowledge will be crucial as NASA moves to explore the Moon under the Artemis program and later send missions to Mars, which can be 6-9 months away from Earth.

What is the Gateway, and how is it related to the ISS?

The Gateway is a planned outpost around the Moon that NASA will build to enable lunar exploration under the Artemis program. Lessons learned from the ISS will help in the development and operation of the Gateway.

What makes the ISS a symbol of global cooperation?

The ISS is a testament to international collaboration, built by 15 countries working together. Over 100 countries have also participated in research on the station, showing the power of global teamwork in achieving remarkable scientific and technological advancements.