ISS - International Space Station patch.
11/19/2012
International Space Station
Almost fifteen years flying around the Earth's orbit International Space Station. ISS often called man-made orbital home. The idea of creating large objects in orbit was born in this country 40 years ago and was embodied in the term the "Salyut" and "Peace." But ISS has incorporated the most advanced technology of modern civilization and rich experience of Russia in space architecture. Is now in orbit watch 33rd long-term mission. And just to the ISS for 14 years, has visited more than 200 humans from 15 countries.
1998-year: sent into orbit the first module of the International Space Station. By that humanity went almost thirty years.
ISS building phases
The idea was born while orbiting home in the Soviet Union and the U.S., but that our country has produced the first orbital home - station "Salut".
"The program has space stations for 40 years," - says Sergey Krikalev, Chief Cosmonaut Training Center. Yuri Gagarin. "The first station" Salyut "was launched in 1971, the year. And based on the experience we got to the station "Salyut", was built station "Mir". This is the base unit was a prototype of the future of the International Space Station. "
ISS components description
First handshake between the two countries - the Soviet Union and the United States occurred in 1975, the year. "Soyuz-Apollo". When the world was still in a relationship frozen, thaw began in space. After docking of two ships began to prepare Americans and flights to the space station.
Hero of the Soviet Union and Hero of Russia S.K.Krikalev - now head of the Cosmonaut Training Center, and then preparing for the historic mission - the first flight of Russian to U.S. shuttle to the station "Mir". While the beginning of the history, entitled "International cooperation in space."
"The station" Mir "flew more than 15 years, and during the flight were optimized technology long flights, - says Sergey Krikalyov, including technologies of international cooperation, and is now used in the International Space Station."
ISS description
"During the flight to the station" Mir "we learned a lot. I can not imagine how would they built the International Space Station without the knowledge acquired. And when it all began, the Russian and Americans already know how to work together as our equipment works together, and even how we'll be together for a vacation. So the construction of the ISS program only benefited from our cooperation ", - said the U.S. astronaut Michael Barratt.
The Americans at the station has a special dome for a review of the Earth, and the Russians have a space crew's quarters, where everyone eats. U.S. space food varied, and the Russian satisfying and useful. The exercise bike is more convenient for our American astronauts. American shuttles as heavy trucks lifted the ISS modules, and the Russian "Soyuz" and are helping to support the work station when the shuttle is not flying. This is not a competition, but cooperation and exchange of experience. No race in outer space, but there is a big construction project in orbit. Which is not yet finished.
International Space Station in orbit
"The importance of the ISS for all inhabitants of the Earth is large, as many high technology designed for space or have been tested in space", - Sergey Krikalev.
Material Teflon, microwave ovens, many metal alloys, water purification systems, vaccines and medicines - this would not be without space stations. Photos from the ISS to help cope with disasters and deal with rural hozyaĭstvom, educational programs inspire future scientists, engineers and explorers. Common cause unites the country. From space, the border is not visible.
"I think that space studies from a global perspective the study of other planets should be international - says NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson. - We're doing something for the world as one big community, but, in fact, the most difficult thing we did together - it's the space station itself. This conclusively proves that together we are stronger. "
ISS - View from inside Cupola
For 14 years, the ISS has overcome three and a half billion kilometers. During this time, more than 10 times you can fly to Mars and back. Station - the largest man-made object in space, and the most expensive scientific project in history. But it is a glorious page in the history, which continues to be created before our eyes.
Sergei Krikalev sure that will work for the International Space Station in orbit until at least 2020. But now we can say for sure that the next step in space will be made from this man-made stars of humanity.
International Space Station in orbit
Facts about International Space Station:
- The ISS solar array surface area could cover the U.S. Senate Chamber three times over.
- ISS eventually will be larger than a five-bedroom house.
- ISS will have an internal pressurized volume of 33,023 cubic feet, or equal that of a Boeing 747.
- The solar array wingspan (240 feet / 73 meters) is longer than that of a Boeing 777 200/300 model, which is 212 feet (64.6 m).
- Fifty-two computers will control the systems on the ISS.
- More than 115 space flights will have been conducted on five different types of launch vehicles over the course of the station’s construction.
- More than 100 telephone-booth sized rack facilities can be in the ISS for operating the spacecraft systems and research experiments.
- The ISS is almost four times as large as the Russian space station Mir, and about five times as large as the U.S. Skylab.
- The ISS will weigh almost one million pounds (925,627 pounds / 419,857 kilograms). That’s the equivalent of more than 320 automobiles.
- The ISS measures 357 feet (108 meters) end-to-end. That’s nearly the length of a football field including the end zones.
- 3.3 million lines of software code on the ground supports 1.8 million lines of flight software code.
- 8 miles (12.8 kilometers) of wire connects the electrical power system.
- In the International Space Station’s U.S. segment alone, 1.5 million lines of flight software code will run on 44 computers communicating via 100 data networks transferring 400,000 signals (e.g. pressure or temperature measurements, valve positions, etc.).
- The ISS will manage 20 times as many signals as the Space Shuttle.
- Main U.S. control computers have 1.5 gigabytes of total main hard drive storage in U.S. segment compared to modern PCs, which have about 500-gigabyte hard drives.
- The entire 55-foot robot arm assembly is capable of lifting 220,000 pounds, which is the weight of a Space Shuttle orbiter.
- The 75 to 90 kilowatts of power for the ISS is supplied by an acre of solar panels.
Original text in Russian: http://www.federalspace.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=19696
For more information about the International Space Station and its crew, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station
Images, Video, Text, Credits: Roskosmos TV Studio / ROSCOSMOS / NASA / NASA TV / ESA / Translation: Orbiter.ch.
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