Skip to main content

International Space Station

See All Stories
International Space Station

The International Space Station is a collaborative project between five space agencies: NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA, and CSA; and 16 nations. The Space Station serves as a floating laboratory in Low-Earth orbit. First launched in 1998, the station has been continually occupied by humans since 2000 and sees continual updates.

Partner Nations and Space Agencies

The International Space Station, in its name, is an international cooperation between both space agencies and nations. All these nations support funding for maintaining and providing experiments and crew for the station.

List of member agencies

  • NASA
  • Roscosmos
  • ESA
  • JAXA
  • CSA

List of partner nations

  • Belgium
  • Denmark
  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America

Spacecraft that support space station operations

Crew Spacecraft

SpacecraftCountryCrew CapacityRocketStatus
CST-100 StarlinerUS (Boeing)4 crew membersAtlas VIn Development
Crew DragonUS (SpaceX)4 crew membersFalcon 9Operational
SoyuzRussia3 crew membersSoyuzOperational
Space ShuttleUS8 crew membersSpace ShuttleRetired

Cargo Spacecraft

SpacecraftCountryCargo CapacityRocketStatus
Dream ChaserUS (Sierra Space)5,500 kg to ISS; 1,750 kg returnedVulcanIn Development
HTV-XJapan7,200 kg to ISSH3In Development
ProgressRussia2,400 kg to ISS;SoyuzOperational
CygnusUS (Northrop Grumman)2,000 kg to ISS;Antares / Atlas VOperational
Dragon 2US (SpaceX)6,000 kg to ISS; 3,000 kg returnedFalcon 9Operational
H-II Transfer VehicleJapan6,000 kg to ISS;H-IIBRetired
DragonUS (SpaceX)6,000 kg to ISS; 3,000 kg returnedFalcon 9Retired

Rockets which launch Space Station modules

RocketVehicle CountrySegments LaunchedVehicle Status
ProtonRussiaZarya, Zvezda, NaukaOperational
SoyuzRussiaPirs, PoiskOperational
Space ShuttleUnited StatesUnity, Destiny, Harmony, Columbus, Rassvet, Leonardo, Quest, Tranquility, Cupola, JEM-ELM-PS, JEM-PMRetired
Falcon 9United StatesBEAM Operational
Rockets that have launched Space Station modules
SpaceX CRS-2

Launch Spotlight: CRS-27 – SpaceX set to launch the 27th space station resupply mission

SpaceX is set to launch a Falcon 9 from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 14, 2022, at 8:30 p.m. EDT. This launch will carry a Cargo Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station carrying food, science, and other supplies for the Commercial Resupply Services 27 (CRS-27) mission.

Expand Expanding Close

SpaceX successfully launches Crew-6 mission to ISS with second-ever UAE astronaut on board

spacex launch of crew-6

After aborting during an issue with loading Falcon 9’s ignition fluid, SpaceX successfully lifted off from historic LC-39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center with the sixth crew rotation in part of the Commercial Crew Program. This mission is unique, as it carries the first long-duration mission of a UAE astronaut, thanks to a partnership with Axiom.

Expand Expanding Close

Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft arrives at the space station – despite a failed solar panel

Cygnus one solar panel

Early this morning, Northrop Grumman’s SS Sally Ride Cygnus spacecraft arrived at the International Space Station carrying 8,200 pounds of supplies for the seven crewmembers. However, the Cygnus is missing one of its now iconic circular solar panels due to an unknown failure.

Expand Expanding Close

Northrop Grumman partners with Firefly to upgrade Antares and develop future rocket together

Northrop Grumman Antares rocket horizontal

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, we have been following how it will affect Northrop Grumman’s capability to launch its Antares rocket. Northrop Grumman has finally announced its solution to unavailable components in a partnership with Firefly Aerospace to supply engines and a new first stage to the Antares 330 rocket.

Expand Expanding Close

Launch Spotlight: CRS-25 – SpaceX set to launch the 25th space station resupply mission

SpaceX is set to launch a Falcon 9 from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on July 14, 2022, at 8:44 p.m. EDT. This launch will carry a Cargo Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station carrying food, science, and other supplies for the Commercial Resupply Services 25 (CRS-25) mission.

Expand Expanding Close

Boeing could lose out to SpaceX (again) for final NASA crewed missions to the ISS

NASA announced quietly on June 1 that they are preparing to buy five more flights of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon to finish out the crew rotation through the planned International Space Station lifespan. This could end up being the final missions awarded under the Commerical Crew Program, with the ISS set to retire by 2030.

Expand Expanding Close

Launch Spotlight: Starliner OFT-2 – CST-100 Starliner’s second test flight to the ISS

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V N22 rocket will launch the Boeing CST-100 Starliner capsule to the International Space Station for its second test flight. The target liftoff time is 6:54 PM EDT on May 19, 2022, from SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Expand Expanding Close