Space Vehicle Profile: International Space Station
On 4 December 1998 NASA and its partner nations began building the International Space Station (ISS). On that date, Space Shuttle Endeavour lifted off on its 12-day mission to deliver NASA’s Unity module and connect it to Russia’s Zarya control module already orbiting Earth.
The largest spacecraft ever constructed, ISS is an international venture between NASA, the Russian Federal Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and members of the European Space Agency (ESA).
As of December 2008 the station's mass had expanded to more than 285,000kg (627,000lb) and its interior volume more than 25,000 cubic feet.
Since Zarya's November 1998 launch as the early command, control and power module, there have been 29 additional construction flights to the station: 27 aboard the Shuttle and two additional Russian launches.
Over 165 individuals representing 15 countries have visited the complex, while crews have eaten some 19,000 meals aboard the station since the first crew took up residence in 2000.
By December 2008 after 114 spacewalks and robotic construction the station's truss structure has grown to 291ft (88.7m) long and its solar arrays have an area of 28,800 square feet.
The ISS hosts 19 research facilities, including nine sponsored by NASA, eight by ESA and two by JAXA. The 2005 NASA Authorisation Act recognized the US ISS segment as the first national laboratory beyond Earth, opening it for additional research by other government agencies, academia and the private sector.