The most complex peacetime project ever attempted is now becoming reality. 
Seventeen nations are working together to produce a platform for doing the most
advanced space research in human history. The International Space Station (ISS)
is the culmination of years of intensive planning, engineering, and cooperation.
The first modules are now in space, and soon international team of
scientists will begin a permanent human presence in space.
Though such a station was envisioned in the 1960’s, the current incarnation
of the station was the result of a 1984 goal set by Ronald Reagan. In his State
of the Union speech that year, Reagan outlined a plan to maintain a permanent
outpost in space. There have been a number of revisions to this early plan
(initially called Space Station Freedom) and budget cutbacks have scaled back
some of the original designs. NASA is now leading development on the station and
preparing to begin assembly.
Russia has played a major role in the development of the station. ISS Phase I
utilized the existing Mir Space Station for training and technology testing. The
Russians have added years of space station experience to the ISS program.
Because of the Russian’s proven technology, the new station will have a number
of advantages. Unmanned resupply vehicles will be able to help maintain the
station between Space Shuttle missions and a Soyuz capsule will allow an
emergency escape option until the crew-return vehicle is ready to be added (in
testing now as X-38).
Russia and the United States are providing most of the hardware for the
modules of the station. There are, however, other countries building research
nodes. Japan will have a science module and Italy will be adding two additional
nodes in the final phase of the program.
Phase I of the station has been successfully completed aboard the Mir
Space Station. Phase II will be getting underway soon. Phase II includes the
initial assembly of the most crucial parts of the station. Phase III will be
when the station is readied for permanent habitation for at least ten years by
crews from nations around the world.
There are still many challenges to be faced in building a station in orbit
with components coming from different nations. Such an unprecedented project has
the potential to forge new understanding among divergent nations here on Earth.
The hope is that the ISS will serve as a catalyst for global scientific
cooperation and future international exploration of the universe.
Top of Page
|
