Living in Space: International Space Station
WHO
In 1984, the United States invited countries around the world to build an international space station. Now, with the participation of 18 countries, it has truly become a global cooperation project.
The flags below represent the 18 countries participating in the International Space Station project. Unscramble the letters to discover the name of each country.
WHEN
When did the United States invite other countries to join in the building of the ISS?
When was it completed?
The answers can be found on this page.
WHY
The space station ______ humans to live and _________ for long periods in a “weightless” _____________. The space station provides an opportunity to study a world without gravity— and better understand gravity’s _______ on plants, animals, and humans.
Lessons from past space travel show that living with little or no gravity ___________ bones and muscles. The space station allows scientists to understand these effects and find ______________ for long-term space travel.
WHAT
When completed in 2010, the ISS was longer than an American football field, has a living and working space the size of a 747 jumbo-jet, and is able to house up to seven astronauts.
How does it get electricity? Hold this sentence up to a mirror:
WHERE
The ISS was built, section by section, in space.
Why not build it on earth and then take it to space? The completed station weighs a million pounds on Earth—too difficult and costly to attempt to take into space in one flight.