new page: Orion CEV, Ares I & V LVs, & LSAM Lunar Lander Shuttle Replacement Spacecraft (July 17, 2005) An article in the Houston Chronicle summarizes the history of the ISS, it's current status, its future, and its reliance on the Space Shuttle. The station, begun in 1998, is only half-finished. With Space Shuttles inoperational, the ISS has a crew of 2 instead of the intended 6, keeping the crew occupied with maintenance chores instead of research. NASA now proposes that operation of the ISS, originally referred to as a "permanent" space station, be terminated in 2017. NASA's International Space Station site has ISS news and status reports, information on US, Russian, and other nations' modules, an ISS photo, video, & interactive media gallery including a virtual reality tour, and more. The Station pages have moved to a new URL recently, but the old pages aren't gone yet. Space Station Photo & Video Gallery Current Space Station Postion Tracking ISS Evolution Data Book: Baseline Design (2000)     is the real deal, a 222-page, 3.32 MB .pdf ISS Technical Configuration 1-page .pdf     shows all major components of the ISS. ISS Assembly Overview a 9-page, 2.15 MB .pdf Shuttle Press Kit: ISS Overview More NASA ISS Reference resources   Major International Space Station Components 1. Zarya, or "Functional Cargo Block" (FGB) Nov 20, 1988 launch by Russia on Proton 42,600 lbs (19,323kg), 41.2' x 13.5' (12.6m x 4.1m) - solar arrays provide 3 kW - used for storage & 16 fuel tanks (6 tons capacity) - orbital change & attitude control engines - Soyuz/Progress docking ports - US paid $220 million for Zarya     see also: astronautix: Zarya 2. Node 1 or "Unity" (.pdf) Dec 4, 1998 launch by US on Endeavour STS-88 25,600 lbs, 18' x 15' (5.5m x 4.6m) - 121 electrical cables; 216 fluid & gas lines - is a connecting passageway with 6 ports:     > Zarya     > Destiny     > Z-1 truss     > Quest airlock     > open (Cupola)     > open (ESA Node 3)     see also: SpaceRef: Node 1 3. Zvezda Service Module July 12, 2000 launch by Russia on Proton 42,000 lbs (19,051kg), 43' (13.1m) based on Mir core module, built for Mir 2 - took over attitude control & reboost from Zarya - 4 attitude control gyroscopes - living quarters, 13 windows, three 9", one 16" - has Data Management System from ESA - has an EVA airlock and 4 docking ports:     > Zarya     > Progress/Soyuz     > open (Universal Docking Module)     > open (Science Power Platform-- cancelled)     see also: astronautix.com: Zvezda         Russian Space Web: Zvezda         Space.ref JSC Zvezda layout .pdfs: x - y - z         Zvezda Press Kit 50 page, 1.17 MB .pdf 4. Z-1 Truss Oct 11, 2000 launch by US on Discovery STS-92 - temporary mount on Node 1 for US solar array 5. Photovoltaic Power Module (P6) Nov 30, 2000 launch by US on Endeavour STS-97 - Two 115' x 38' solar arrays, 66,000 solar cells - generates up to 64 kW of electricity 6. Destiny Lab Feb 7, 2001 launch by US on Shuttle STS-98 32,000 lbs (14,500 kg), 28' x 14' (8.5m x 4.3m) - holds up to 13 73" x 42" ISPR experiment racks - eleven additional racks hold support systems 7. CanadArm 2 Apr 19, 2001 launch by US on Endeavour STS-100 - remote manipulator arm 8. Quest Joint Airlock Feb 7, 2001 launch by US on Shuttle STS-104 13,368 lbs, 18' x 13' - can accomodate US or Russian space suits     see also: SpaceRef: Quest Airlock 9. Pirs Docking Compartment (DC-1) Sep 14, 2001 launch by Russia on Soyuz 7,893 lbs (3,580 kg), 16' x 8.4' (4.91m x 2.55m) - docking for cargo vehicles, transfers propellants     between Progress-Soyuz & Zvezda-Zarya - airlock for Russian Orlan spacesuits - to be replaced by Universal Docking Module 11. Mobile Base System Jun 5, 2002 launch by US on Endeavour STS-100 - mobile base for CanadArm 2 Integrated Truss Structure 10. S0 Truss Apr 8, 2002 launch by US on Atlantis STS-110 12. S1 Starboard Truss Oct 7, 2002 launch by US on Atlantis STS-112 13. P1 Port Truss Nov 23, 2002 launch by US on Endeavour STS-113

NASA's revised Multi-Program Integrated Milestones schedule, as of July 10, 2007, shows a 6-person ISS crew beginning in 2009, the last Shuttle flight in 2010, the first Ares I LV test flight in April, 2009, first Orion test flights in 2013, first manned flight in mid 2015, and Orion not operational until 2016.     NASA has agreed to pay Russia's Federal Space Agency $719 million to carry 15 crew members to and from the ISS between 2009 and 2011. If the life of the Shuttle is not extended, or development of Orion accelerated, additional arrangements will have to be made Soyuz spacecraft to service the ISS for four more years, until 2016. MISSIONS: NASA - ESA - JAXA KENNEDY SPACE CENTER: Shuttle Countdown KSC Video Feeds webcams galore NASA TV LIVE: RealVideo - Windows Media alternate RealVideo - sound only RealAudio POSTION TRACKING: Shuttle - ISS - ESA LAUNCH SCHEDULES: KSC - SpaceflightNow Space.com - Space-Launcher.com SPACE & ASTRONOMY: JPL Space Calendar See also: Space News, NASA News, Space Shuttle News, and STS-107 Columbia Countdown Creations is a leading retailer of space T-shirts, apparel, and gifts, including NASA t-shirts, space station gear, astronaut flight suits, mission patches and caps, and more.   Space Station News "Astronaut" A 24" by 36" art print of a Shuttle EVA astronaut in free flight. Click to see a larger view, or purchase for $10.80. Google Usenet Newsgroups sci.space.station sci.space.news sci.space gov.us.fed.nasa.announce Space Station Search: The DMOZ Open Directory searches for keywords in website titles and descriptions (not page content). You can limit your search to the Space Station links category, or search all space or science links. find this: in: ISS Sites NASA Sites Space Shuttle Space Missions All Space All Science Orbiter is a freeware Space Shuttle (and other spacecraft) flight simulator. Launch the Shuttle to deploy a satellite or rendezvous with the ISS. "The emphasis is firmly on realism, and the learning curve can be steep." Free plugins allow Orbiter to simulate Mercury & Gemini missions & more. Orbiter is totally free, though author Martin Schweiger will accept donations. screenshots

  Planned ISS Elements Not Yet Installed

NASA Harmony Node 2 (built by ESA) will connect to Destiny, Columbus, Centrifuge Accommodation Module, Kibo, Multi-Purpose Logistics Module and H II Transfer Vehicle. It also provides a working base point for the Space Station Remote Manipulator System.

European Space Agency (ESA) contributions to the ISS will include the European Columbus Laboratory, and the Automated Transfer Vehicle (Jules Verne).
ESA Columbus Lab - brochure, .pdf
ESA Node 3 will connect to Node 1, Crew Return Vehicle, Cupola, Pressurised Mating Adapter 3 and Habitation Module
ESA Cupola
European Robotic Arm for Russian segment ops

The Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) KIBO, built by JAXA, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, is scheduled to be added to the ISS in 2006. JAXA is also providing the Centrifuge Accommodation Module (CAM).

  ISS Logistics: Space Station Cargo Carriers

ESA Automated Transfer Vehicle - brochure, .pdf
Russian Soyuz-based Progress M and M1 - NASA Progress page
Spacehab Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC), .pdf
Multi-Purpose Logistics Modules (MPLM)

The Space Station Launch Site Homepage from NASA's Kennedy Space Center explains the launch center's role in preparing ISS payloads for flight, and includes webcam images of the ISS payload processing facilities.

NASA Space Station Science Operations News

The International Space Station Amateur Telescope is a plan to mount a telescope on the ISS to be remotely operated by time-sharing amateur astronomers.

  Major International Space Station Contractors

US: Boeing
Italy: Alenia Spazio
Russia: Energia photos - videos.
Canada: MDA Robotics

  Space Station Articles

Ralpha: Russian American Space Cooperation is a 1993 article by John Pike explaining why the US got involved with Russia supplying modules and crews for the ISS.

Missed Deadlines is a 1998 Scientific American article by Alan Hall on late Russian deliverys of key ISS components.

  Other Space Station Sites

SpaceRef's excellent "Space Station Users Guide" includes ISS Element Drawings.

How Stuff Works: Space Stations is an easy-to-understand article by Craig Freudenrich on the ISS and its subsystems for life support, propulsion, communications, etc., very good for novices.

CNN: City in Space includes current news, and quick links to past ISS news articles, plus ISS animations and IPIX 3-D images.

Space Today: Space Stations

  Space Station History

Encyclopedia Astronautica presents a comprehensive historical look at the conceptual development of US Space Stations, from Wernher von Braun's doughnut, to the present ISS, with many images. Very good for connoisseurs.

Russian Space Web has extensive Salyut, Almaz, Mir, and ISS information.

Zarya also has Salyut, Mir, & early ISS info.

  NASA Books (NASA Special Publications) & NASA Articles Online

International Space Station Books (ISS Books) NASA ISS Evolution Data Book: Baseline Design SP-6109 (2000), is the real deal, a 222-page, 2.15 MB .pdf NASA ISS Assembly Overview 2.15 MB .pdf Orlan Space Suit Operations, a 72-page 2.1 MB .pdf file, is a user's manual for the Russian Orlan EVA Space Suit, from Energia via SpaceRef.com Zvezda Life Support Systems, a 54-page 828 KB .pdf file, Zvezda Atmosphere Revitalization Subsystem, a 104-page 2.1 MB .pdf file, Zvezda Control and Navigation, a 70-page 879 KB .pdf file, Zvezda Power Supply, a 37-page 712 KB .pdf file, Zvezda Communications, a 57-page 608 KB .pdf file, Zvezda Thermal Control, a 53-page 421 KB .pdf file, Zvezda Video and Audio, a 40-page 518 KB .pdf file, Zvezda Maintenance: Installation/Deinstallation, a 58-page, 1.29 MB .pdf file, are user's manuals for the Russian Zvezda module, from Energia via SpaceRef.com Russian Segment Operations, a 81-page, 3.51 MB .pdf file, Russian Segment Activation, a 74-page, 547 KB .pdf file, are user's manuals for the Russian ISS Segment, via SpaceRef.com Together in Orbit: The Origins of International Participation in the Space Station, Monograph 11, is a 56-page .pdf file. ISS Phase I: Shuttle-Mir Program Joint Report, SP-6108 (1999), is a 324-page, 4.64 MB .pdf file. Engineering Challenges to the Long-Term Operation of the International Space Station 2000, NRC Skylab Books Skylab: A Chronology SP-4011 (1977) Skylab: Our First Space Station SP-400 (1977) Skylab: A Guidebook EP-107 Living and Working in Space: A History of Skylab SP-4208 (1978) Skylab: Classroom in Space SP-401 (1977) Skylab's Astronomy and Space Sciences SP-404 (1979) A New Sun: The Solar Results from Skylab SP-402 (1979) over 100 NASA online books are listed on the NASA News page