THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION—GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND

The ISS is a continuation of what began as the U.S. Space Station Freedom in the late 1980’s. It represents a merger of Freedom with several other previously planned space stations: Russia's Mir 2, the planned European Columbus and Kibo, the Japanese Experiment Module. Also Canada is directly involved in the project. The estimated completion date is 2010, with the station remaining in operation until around 2016. It has an average altitude of 340 km (210 statute miles) above the surface of the Earth, and travels at an average speed of 27,700 km (17,210 statute miles) per hour, completing 15.77 orbits per day. The ESA estimates the overall cost from the start of the project in the late 1980s to the prospective end in 2010 to be in the region of $130 billion (€100 billion). The ISS has been continuously inhabited since the first resident crew entered the station on November 2, 2000, thereby providing a permanent human presence in space. To date some 15 countries have taken part in the building and visitation of ISS.

The main fields of research expected to be conducted include: biology (biomedical research and biotechnology); physics (fluid physics, materials science, and quantum physics); astronomy  (cosmology) and meteorology; microgravity effects on humans as well as muscle atrophy, bone loss and fluid shifts; examination of combustion in space; observation of aerosols, ozone, water vapor, and oxides in Earth's atmosphere as well as cosmic rays, cosmic dust, anti-matter, and dark matter in the Universe.

This is the largest joint nation scientific project ever attempted. It will have huge effects on our world in almost every area you can imagine. In addition, private industry will participate and develop untold numbers of applications. It is our very first window into colonization of other worlds. Centuries from now it will be lauded as the beginning. Whether you like it as an American or are against it, it will indeed affect you and your descendants for the better. And that is a good thing.