International Space Day 2024 is on Friday, May 3, 2024: The International Space Station?

Friday, May 3, 2024 is International Space Day 2024. Space Day 2013 The International Space

The International Space Station?

The International Space Station (ISS) is a research facility currently being assembled in space. The on-orbit assembly of ISS began in 1998. The space station is in a low Earth orbit and can be seen from Earth with the naked eye: it has an altitude of 350-460 km (217-286 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 ISS is a joint project among the space agencies of the United States (NASA), Russia (RKA), Japan (JAXA), Canada (CSA) and eleven European countries (ESA).

The ISS is a continuation of what began as the U.S. Space Station Freedom, the funding for which was cut back severely. It represents a merger of Freedom with several other previously planned space stations: Russia's Mir 2, the European Columbus and Kibo, the Japanese Experiment Module. The projected completion date is 2010, with the station remaining in operation until around 2016. As of 2008, the ISS is already larger than any previous space station.

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. In order to fulfill an active research program it will be necessary to eventually hold 6 crew members. Early crew members all came from the Russian and U.S. space programs. The station has, however, been visited by astronauts from 15 countries. The ISS was also the destination of the first five space tourists.

How many times does the international space station orbit the earth in a day?

How many times does the international space station orbit the earth in a day?

According to the current orbital elements, it orbits 15.729 times per day, so the astronauts on board see 15 or 16 sunrises and sunsets each day. Often, the actual disappearance and reappearance of the sun over the horizon, as seen from the ISS, can take less than 10 seconds. There is usually at least one period during June/July and again in December/January when the orbit is aligned such the the ISS is in permanent sunlight for up to 3 or 4 days, but there is never an extended period when it's in permanent darkness.

What is the International Space Station?

What is the International Space Station?

The International Space Station (ISS) is a research facility currently being assembled in Low Earth Orbit. On-orbit construction of the station began in 1998, and is scheduled to be complete by 2011, with operations continuing until around 2015.[5] As of 2009[update], the ISS is the largest artificial satellite in Earth orbit, larger than any previous space station.[6]

The ISS programme is a joint project among the space agencies of the United States (NASA), Russia (RKA), Japan (JAXA), Canada (CSA) and ten European nations through the European Space Agency.[7] The Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) participates through a separate contract with NASA.[8] The Italian Space Agency similarly has separate contracts for various activities not done within the framework of ESA's ISS projects (where Italy also fully participates).[9] China has reportedly expressed interest in the project, especially if it would be able to work with the RKA, although as of 2009[update] it is not involved.[10][11]

The space station is in a Low Earth Orbit, and can be seen from Earth with the naked eye. It orbits at an altitude of approximately 350 km (190 nautical miles) above the surface of the Earth,[12][13][14] travelling at an average speed of 27,700 kilometres (17,210 mi) per hour, completing 15.7 orbits per day.[12]

The ISS has been continuously staffed since the first resident crew, Expedition 1, entered the station on 2 November 2000. This has provided a permanent human presence in space for the last &0000000000000008.0000008 years, &0000000000000155.000000155 days.[15] At present, the station has the capacity for a crew of three. However, to fulfil an active research programme, it will be staffed by a resident crew of six beginning with Expedition 20. The crews of Expedition 18 and Expedition 19 are currently aboard.[16][17]

Early crew members all came from the Russian and American space programmes until German ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter joined the Expedition 13 crew in July 2006, becoming the first crew member from another space agency. The station has been visited by astronauts from 16 different nations, and it was the destination of the first six space tourists.[18]

Holidays also on this date Friday, May 3, 2024...