INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATIONS

Posted 15 Feb 2024

Updated 22 Mar 2024

4 min read

Why in the news?

Russia has extended its cross-flight programme with NASA transporting astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) until 2025.

Cross-flights have been extended to maintain the reliability of the ISS operation and will be carried out on Russian and U.S. spacecraft.
- Cross-flights involve sending one Russian cosmonaut as part of an American crew to the space station, and vice versa- one American astronaut to the ISS as part of the crew of a Russian spacecraft.

It is a habitable artificial satellite, in low Earth orbit (at an altitude of between 370–460 km).
Key partners for ISS:
- European countries (represented by European Space Agency)
- United States (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
- Japan (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)
- Canada (Canadian Space Agency) and
- Russia (Roscosmos)
Its first component was launched into orbit in 1998 and new modules were added as recently as 2021.
- It will continue to be a working laboratory and outpost in orbit until at least 2030.
ISS was taken into space piece-by-piece and gradually built in orbit, with its assembly requiring more than 40 missions.

Research and Science: It provides opportunities to conduct meaningful studies on topics such as DNA sequencing, robotics, and satellites in microgravity environment which is not possible on Earth.
- Research also includes studying effects of long-term space radiation exposure on the human body.
International Cooperation: International partnership of space agencies has led to global collaboration in developing space facilities; communications networks, and scientific research.
Human health: Research is being carried out to study disease formation, testing drugs and diagnostic tools, and examining the inner workings of the human body.
Low Earth Orbit Economy: ISS is used by small businesses and entrepreneurs to test their technology in space.
- It supports development of new and improved products, and provides growth for commercial ventures.
Long duration Spaceflight and human habitation: It serves as a testing ground to study how to keep astronauts safe and healthy on long-duration missions.

Russia: Salyut 1 was world's first space station launched by the Soviet Union on April 19, 1971. Then Russia launched various space stations from Salyut 2 to Salyut 7, and Mir.
China: Tiangong 1 launched in 2011, Tiangong -2 launched in 2016 were test space labs and Tiangong space station was launched in 2021 (fully operational since late 2022).
USA: Skylab: USA’s first space station, launched by NASA in 1973.
Future missions:
- NASA’s Artemis Base Camp on the moon’s surface and the Gateway in lunar orbit.
- India’s Bharatiya Antariksha Station.

Prime Minister of India directed that India should now aim for setting up ‘Bharatiya Antariksha Station’ (Indian Space Station) by 2035.
ISRO is planning to carry out the first tests of the proposed Bharatiya Space Station next year and talks are on with the industry to manufacture, test and launch its first module by 2028.
Challenges regarding Indian space station:
- Station building is costly endeavor: India’s R&D expenditure-GDP ratio is low (0.7%).
- Need of expertise in human spaceflight: India will have to train a team of astronauts and ensure their safety and well-being in space.
- Upgrade needed in ISRO’s technological infrastructure: For components like life support, radiation protection, structural integrity and orbital maintenance etc.
Benefits: Advancing scientific knowledge, enhancing the nation’s prestige, promoting global co-operation & peace etc.