What Happens to the ISS After 2030? The Deorbit Plan
After more than three decades in orbit, the International Space Station is nearing retirement. Here is the plan to bring it down safely and what will replace it.
How the ISS Makes Oxygen and Keeps the Air Breathable
There is no fresh air in space, so the ISS has to make its own. Here is how the station generates oxygen, removes carbon dioxide, and keeps its atmosphere close to sea level.
How Fast Does the ISS Travel? Speed, Orbit Time, and Altitude Explained
The International Space Station races around the planet at about 28,000 kilometers per hour, circling Earth roughly every 90 minutes. Here is what that speed really means.
How to See the ISS from Earth: A Simple Spotting Guide
You do not need a telescope to see the International Space Station. On a clear evening it looks like a bright, fast-moving star crossing the sky. Here is how to catch it.
ISS by the Numbers: Key Facts and Figures
The International Space Station in numbers - from its total mass to its orbital speed, power generation, and the amount of water it recycles every day.
Life Inside the ISS: Cabin Pressure and Temperature
The ISS maintains a shirt-sleeve environment 400 km above Earth. Here is how the station keeps its crew comfortable in the vacuum of space.
How the ISS Recycles Water (Including Urine)
Water is one of the most precious resources in space. The ISS recycles nearly every drop - including sweat, humidity, and yes, urine - back into clean drinking water.
Why the ISS Altitude Keeps Changing
If you watch the altitude chart for a few days, you will notice the station slowly loses height, then suddenly jumps up. Here is why that happens.
How ISS Telemetry Works: From Sensors to Your Screen
The ISS generates thousands of data points every second. Here is how that information travels from sensors on the station to monitoring dashboards on the ground - and to this website.
A Brief History of the International Space Station
From the first module launched in 1998 to a continuously inhabited outpost in low Earth orbit, the ISS is one of the most ambitious engineering projects ever built.