HISTORY OF ISS (INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION)
- Origins (1980s): The concept of a space station in low Earth orbit was discussed as
early as the 1980s.
- Space Station Freedom (1984-1998): The United States proposed "Space Station
Freedom" in 1984, but it faced delays due to cost concerns.
- Mir Space Station (1986-2001): The Soviet Union launched the Mir space station in
1986, demonstrating long-term human presence in space.
- International Collaboration (1998): In 1998, the U.S., Russia, Canada, Japan, and
ESA signed agreements to collaborate on the ISS.
- Assembly Begins (1998-2001): Modules like Zarya and Unity were launched in 1998,
marking the start of ISS assembly.
- Continuous Crewed Presence (2000): In 2000, Expedition 1 began, achieving the ISS's
first continuous crewed presence.
- International Cooperation: The ISS involves space agencies from the U.S., Russia,
Canada, Japan, and Europe through ESA.
- Scientific Research: The ISS serves as a platform for scientific research in
microgravity.
- Expansion and Maintenance: New modules and equipment have been added over the
years, with regular maintenance.
- Future Exploration: The ISS prepares for future missions to the Moon and Mars,
testing technologies for deep space.
- International Commitment: Partners plan to keep the ISS operational until at least
2030.