Among the entities benefiting from ISS access is the Boeing-founded Genes in Space, a STEM contest that challenges students to design DNA analysis experiments for the ISS National Lab (managed by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, or CASIS). ISS is hitting its stride as an incubator and business model in the commercial space ecosystem. Due to its modular systems and the limited degradation of the space environment, technical assessments have shown the station could safely operate beyond 2030 if NASA and its international partners choose to do so. on-orbit segment of the ISS to NASA in 2010 and continues to provide key engineering support services and continual capability enhancements, as well as processing for laboratory experiment racks. The ISS is the cornerstone of human activity in low Earth orbit, a cooperative global effort to expand our knowledge and improve life on Earth while testing technology that will build a LEO economy and extend our reach to the moon, Mars and beyond.īoeing officially turned over the U.S. From design to launch, 15 countries collaborated to assemble the world's only permanently crewed orbital facility, which can support up to seven astronauts and 300 to 400 experiments per crew increment, across an array of disciplines. It will also be moving considerably faster than a typical airplane (airplanes generally fly at about 600 miles (965 km) per hour the space station flies at 17,500 miles (28,000 km) per hour).The International Space Station (ISS) is a permanently crewed on-orbit laboratory that enables scientific research supporting innovation on Earth and future deep space exploration.

The space station looks like an airplane or a very bright star moving across the sky, except it doesn't have flashing lights or change direction. The International Space Station is seen in this 30 second exposure as it flies over Elkton, VA early in the morning, Saturday, August 1, 2015.

Spot The Station's sighting opportunities pages will give you a list of all possible space station sightings for your location. Spot The Station may not properly inform you of all visible space station passes in these locations. If you live north or south of 51.6 degrees, the ISS will never go directly over your head- this includes places like Alaska. This means that, as it orbits, the farthest north and south of the Equator it will ever go is 51.6 degrees latitude. Important: The International Space Station orbits with an inclination of 51.6 degrees. The letters represent compass directions - N is north, WNW is west by northwest, and so on.ĭisappears represents where in the night sky the International Space Station will leave your field of view. This value, like maximum height, also is measured in degrees from the horizon. If you hold your fist at arm's length and place your fist resting on the horizon, the top will be about 10 degrees.Īppears is the location in the sky where the station will be visible first. The horizon is at zero degrees, and directly overhead is ninety degrees. It represents the height of the space station from the horizon in the night sky. Max Height is measured in degrees (also known as elevation).

Visible is the maximum time period the space station is visible before crossing back below the horizon. This is the optimum viewing period as the sun reflects off the space station and contrasts against the darker sky. All sightings will occur within a few hours before or after sunrise or sunset. Time is when the sighting opportunity will begin in your local time zone. What does all this sighting information mean? SpotTheStation! Time:

International space station