International Space Station

The International Space Station is a $100 billion research outpost in low-Earth orbit. It was built by 15 different countries and overseen by 5 space agencies, among them NASA, Russia's Roscosmos agency, the European Space Agency, the Canadian Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Construction began in 1998 and rotating astronaut crews have lived on the ISS continuously since 2000. Today, the ISS is the largest human-built structure in space. See the latest news, photos and videos from ISS missions here.

Related Topics: Falcon Heavy, Incredible Space Tech, NASA, SpaceX, Interstellar Travel

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an astronaut floating in a space station module. he faces two tie down straps stretched across the entrance. between the two straps are two small rings, one above the other. he throws a ball through one of the rings.

Watch astronauts play new 'Space Dart' game on the ISS (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published

Spare time on the International Space Station sometimes involves space games, and astronauts just invented a new one.

peggy whitson in a spacesuit smiling during a spacewalk. black space is behind her

How Apollo 11 inspired record-breaking NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson (exclusive)

By Elizabeth Howell published

Record-breaking former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson appeared on CBS News on July 20 to talk about how the Apollo 11 moon landing influenced her career choice.

three barbie dolls in space suits

1st Barbie dolls to fly into space make their debut at Smithsonian Air and Space Museum

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The National Air and Space Museum debuted the first Barbie dolls to fly in space. They appear to be like all of the other Barbie "Space Discovery" dolls found in stores, and that may be the point.

astronaut in front of a window facing earth. the astronaut is floating out the window at a barely visible piece of cylindrical equipment visible against the clouds

Here's how ISS astronauts jettison old space station hardware (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published

With a thumbs-up, NASA astronaut Woody Hoburg showed how space station astronauts use a Canadian robotic arm to safely throw away old space station equipment.

an image of material burning. small flames go down lines at the left. on the right is another sample with a very large flame at top

Fire-in-space experiment could soon make its way to the moon

By Elizabeth Howell published

The last of six planned fire-in-space experiments will soon launch toward the International Space Station. Now there's a proposal to bring a similar effort to the surface of the moon.

an astronaut holds a moon rock on the moon while another takes a photo as both wear spacesuits

NASA doubles its spacesuit options for Artemis astronauts on the moon, ISS crews

By John Loeffler published

NASA has tasked Axiom Space and Collins Aerospace to back each other up as each develops new spacesuit designs for spacewalking and the lunar surface.

four astronauts dressed in spacex's black-and-white spacesuits pose at the company's california headquarters during a training session

SpaceX, NASA targeting Aug. 15 for launch of Crew-7 astronaut mission

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX's seventh operational astronaut mission to the International Space Station now has a target launch date — Aug. 15.

view of the full moon from the space station, showing it hanging in the blackness of space over earth's wispy blue atmosphere

Astronaut shares stunning view of July's supermoon from space (photo)

By Samantha Mathewson published

July's full Buck Moon — the first of four consecutive supermoons — rose on July 3, and an astronaut aboard the ISS snapped a stunning view of the celestial sight.

a white spacex dragon capsule backs away from the international space station with the blackness of space in the background

SpaceX Dragon CRS-28 cargo ship returns to Earth with ocean splashdown

By Mike Wall last updated

A robotic SpaceX Dragon capsule splashed down off the Florida coast today (June 30), bringing an end to its International Space Station cargo mission.

overhead view of mecca with lots of roads and desert

UAE astronaut spies Mecca from space station during Hajj (photo)

By Elizabeth Howell published

UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi photographed Mecca, one of Islam's holiest cities, from the International Space Station during the annual pilgrimage, or Hajj.

A NASA astronaut holds a water filter in a recycling system on the international space station

NASA just recycled 98% of all astronaut pee and sweat on the ISS (engineers are thrilled)

By Robert Lea published

ISS systems hit a water recovery milestone of 98% with the better processing of water contained in brine created when crewmates’ urine is distilled.

three cosmonauts holding a red, dark-blue, and light-blue-striped flag aboard the international space station

Russian space agency Roscosmos recruiting fighters for war against Ukraine: report

By Andrew Jones published

Russia's space agency Roscosmos is recruiting and training militia members for the nation's ongoing invasion and occupation of Ukraine, according to a Financial Times report.

cosmonaut Sergey Prokopyev discards an old science experiment during a spacewalk, with the curve of earth visible in the background

Russian cosmonauts toss old equipment overboard on ISS spacewalk

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Russian cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin worked outside of the International Space Station to remove and toss overboard a trio of outdated devices, including a spent science experiment.

Russian cosmonaut Sergey Prokopyev jettisons an 11-pound (5-kilogram) bundle of spent equipment and no longer needed items off the side of the International Space Station during a May 3, 2023 spacewalk.

Watch 2 Russian cosmonauts perform spacewalk outside space station today

By Mike Wall published

Two Russian cosmonauts will perform a roughly seven-hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station today (June 22), and you can watch the action live.

four astronauts dressed in spacex's black-and-white spacesuits pose at the company's california headquarters during a training session

Cosmonaut rounds out SpaceX's Crew-7 mission to the space station

By Josh Dinner published

SpaceX's seventh operational astronaut mission to the International Space Station now has a full crew manifest.

a large storm can be seen beneath the international space station

Astronaut watches Cyclone Biparjoy swirl over the Arabian Sea from space (video)

By Samantha Mathewson published

United Arab Emirates astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi shared a video clip from the International Space Station of Cyclone Biparjoy swirling over the Arabian Sea.

Cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky shared this photo of the International Space Station on Twitter on Sept. 29, 2021. He and two colleagues were relocating a Russian Soyuz spacecraft from one port to another at the time.

International Space Station: Live updates

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

Find out what's going on at the International Space Station.

an astronaut in a white spacesuit on the outside of a space station

Astronauts unfurl final roll-out solar array (for now) at space station in record-tying spacewalk

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

NASA astronauts Woody Hoburg and Stephen Bowen deployed the sixth and last (for now) upgraded solar array outside of the International Space Station while Bowen tied an American spacewalk record.

a space station in orbit above Earth

Private space station: How Axiom Space plans to build its orbital outpost

By Josh Dinner published

Axiom Space is using the results of science experiments conducted on its private missions aboard the International Space Station to inform the design and use of the company's own orbital laboratory.

NASA astronaut Woody Hoburg snaps a selfie during a spacewalk outside the International Space Station on June 9, 2023.

Watch 2 NASA astronauts spacewalk outside space station today in this free livestream

By Mike Wall last updated

Two NASA astronauts will conduct a spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Thursday (June 15), and you can watch the excursion live.