An orbiting laboratory in outer space that was built through collaboration by the international space agencies of highly developed countries such as the United States, Canada, Japan, Russia, and those in Europe, the International Space Station is around 240 miles above Earth’s surface, traveling at about 17,500 miles an hour. Its main objectives are to conduct scientific studies of the cosmos, including its origin and the possibilities of future spaceflight.
The International Space Station is a scientific research laboratory dedicated to helping humans learn how to live in outer space—probably, eradicating home loans? All kidding aside, this includes the crucial study of finding out how the biology of the human body is affected in a space environment. Other onboard experiments are aimed to better understand how the universe works.
When was the ISS built?
With the task from President Ronald Reagan in the mid-1980s, NASA was directed to build an international space station within a decade, which would allow “quantum leaps” in scientific research.
Initially, President Reagan partnered with Europe and Japan, eventually inviting Russia in 1993, with their extensive orbital space station operation. By 1998, all five international space agencies were on board with the project.
The space station design was conceived as a series of linked cylindrical modules that are solar-powered and cooled by loops that radiate heat. These are divided among the station’s two larger segments—the United States Segment, which includes credit contributions from many countries, and the Russian Orbital Segment, operated by Russia.
In 1998, the International Space Station construction began with the first eventual piece of the ISS structure— the Russian Zarya Control Module—which was autonomously delivered to orbit by a Proton rocket. The Russian module was named after the Russian word for “sunrise.” It initially provided power, communications, and altitude control functions. However, it’s currently used primarily as propulsion and storage. In recent years, Unity, a module, which now connects the United States and Russia segments, was delivered – credits to the engineers.
At the moment, the space station spans the area of a U.S. football field. It is typically occupied by at least three astronauts or more. Its construction is still ongoing, with Russia getting ready to send a new science module to the station.
Why does the ISS matter?
Our biological makeup evolved to thrive in our natural habitat but not an alien environment of space. The ISS would be the best place to rehearse working and living these unfamiliar conditions and better understand its effects on our complex biology to a great degree.
Surviving in space involves dealing with microgravity, the near-absence of gravity, and increased radiation exposure. These two conditions can significantly affect the biological functions of the human body. Life in orbit involves the tolerance of living in a small, compact environment with limited human contact and high-pressure situations that might require rapid teamwork response to survive.
Crews must also adapt to an existence in which the sun rises and sets as many as 16 times per day. Getting a good night’s sleep involves securing themselves to a non-floating object. To combat microgravity-induced muscular atrophy and maintain healthy bones in the body to a significant degree, daily exercise is crucial. Other circumstances that the space crews have to contend with are orientation and balance, fluid distribution, and blood circulation. There is also increased radiation exposure in space, which would lead to a higher risk of developing cancers. Some spacesuits are under development to aid in shielding long-duration space travelers from potential destructive cosmic particles.
The International Space Station has provided valuable scientific information regarding the effects on the human body for living in space. It also allows the researchers to further study the cosmos and know some of its mysteries. For now, the ISS is set to operate through 2024, although that timeline may be extended—international government
investment money is put into consideration.
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