International Space Station UPSC Preliminary Exam Special- A Marvel of Human Engineering and Scientific Research

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International Space Station UPSC Preliminary Exam Special- A Marvel of Human Engineering and Scientific Research

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The International Space Station (ISS) is a manmade space station or artificial satellite that is habitable for humans in space. It orbits the earth in the low-earth orbit and houses astronauts who conduct experiments on earth science, biology, biotechnology, astronomy, microgravity, meteorology, physics, and more. In this article, we will discuss the ISS in detail, its evolution, latest news, and the Indian space station.

What is the International Space Station?

The ISS is a unique collaboration of nations, including the United States, Russia, Japan, Europe, and Canada. It was developed and built by five space agencies, namely NASA (USA), Roscosmos (Russia), European Space Agency (ESA-Europe), JAXA (Japan), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA-Canada). The first piece of equipment of the ISS was launched in 1998, and other parts and modules were added and assembled in space at different times. The first crew arrived on the ISS in 2000, and since then, it has always been manned by astronauts.

The ISS is usually at an altitude between about 200 km and 400 km and weighs more than 400,000 kg. It is 73 m long and 109 m wide. The ISS orbits the earth at about 5 miles per second and makes 15.5 orbits per day. It takes roughly 93 minutes for it to make one revolution around the earth. The astronauts generally don’t live on the station for more than six months at a time.

Experiments and Research on the International Space Station UPSC special

The ISS has been in continuous operation for over two decades, and it has been a critical platform for scientific research. According to NASA, more than 240 people from 19 nations have visited the space station. More than 3000 educational and research investigations have been carried out in various fields. Astronauts conduct spacewalks, that is, stepping out of the ISS onto space, and conduct maintenance and repair works on the station. There have been over 200 spacewalks until now.

ISS Program Evolution

The ISS is not the first actual space station to be conceived. It evolved from NASA’s Space Station Freedom, which was conceived in 1984. However, it was never constructed as per the original design. Russian space station Mir-2 had started in 1976, and some of the modules built for it have been incorporated into the ISS. The ISS happens to be the ninth crewed space station, the other earlier ones being Salyut, Almaz, and Mir stations of Russia and Skylab of the US.

International Space Station UPSC Latest News

Russia announced that it will exit the ISS in 2025. Russia was a vital component of the ISS, with countries depending on its modular space station construction technology to build the station in the early years. Also, it was Russia’s Soyuz passenger vehicle that transported people to the ISS ever since 2011 when the US retired its space shuttle program. The ISS has now started relying on private firm SpaceX for this purpose, depriving Russia’s Roscosmos of its funding from NASA. Russia is also planning to build its own space station, expected to be launched into orbit by 2030.

China is also building its own space station named Tiangong, meaning heavenly space. Its core module, the Tianhe, was launched in April 2021.

Indian Space Station

India plans to have its own space station, and its modalities will be submitted to the government by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) after the Gaganyaan Mission. The proposed space station is envisaged to weigh 20 tonnes

FAQs on International Space Station UPSC Prelims Special

What is the International Space Station (ISS)?
The International Space Station is a habitable artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. It is a man-made space station where astronauts live and work while conducting various scientific experiments in the fields of earth science, biology, biotechnology, astronomy, microgravity, meteorology, physics, and more.

When was the first crew sent to the ISS?
The first crew was sent to the ISS in 2000.

Who developed and built the ISS?
The ISS was developed and built by five space agencies – NASA (USA), Roscosmos (Russia), European Space Agency (ESA-Europe), JAXA (Japan), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA-Canada).

How many people have visited the ISS?
According to NASA, more than 240 people from 19 nations have visited the space station.

What is the altitude and weight of the ISS?
The ISS is usually at an altitude between about 200 km and 400 km and weighs more than 400,000 kg. It is 73 m long and 109 m wide.

How fast does the ISS orbit the Earth?
The ISS orbits the Earth at about 5 miles per second and makes 15.5 orbits per day. It takes roughly 93 minutes for it to make one revolution around the Earth.

What is the purpose of spacewalks conducted by astronauts?
Astronauts conduct spacewalks to perform maintenance and repair works on the ISS. There have been over 200 spacewalks until now.

What is the ISS Program Evolution?
The ISS is not the first space station to be conceived. It evolved from NASA’s Space Station Freedom, which was conceived in 1984. Russian space station Mir-2 had started in 1976 and some of the modules built for it have been incorporated into the ISS.

What is the latest news about the ISS?
Russia announced that it will exit the ISS in 2025 and is planning to build its own space station. China is also building its own space station named Tiangong. India plans to have its own space station, which is expected to be launched into orbit by 2030.

What are the modalities of India’s proposed space station?
The proposed space station is envisaged to weigh 20 tonnes and serve as a facility where astronauts can stay for 15-20 days. It would be placed in an orbit 400 km above the Earth, and the modalities will be submitted to the government by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) after the Gaganyaan Mission.