The International Space Station (ISS), orbiting Earth since 1998, has been one of humanity’s most significant achievements in space exploration. After more than two decades of continuous operation, it will be deorbited in 2030 and directed into a remote area of the Pacific Ocean.
• First module launched in 1998.
• Continuous human presence since November 2000.
• Joint project of NASA, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.
• A floating laboratory in microgravity.
• Over 4,000 experiments conducted.
• Research across medicine, physics, biotechnology, agriculture, astronomy, and climate science.
• Helped sequence DNA in orbit.
• Improved knowledge of thunderstorms, combustion, crystallisation, and human health in space.
• More than 4,400 scientific publications.
• Hosted over 250 astronauts.
• Demonstrated long-term living in low-Earth orbit.
• Vital step toward future lunar and Mars missions.
NASA is funding private companies to design and operate new stations in orbit, continuing experiments and human presence beyond the ISS.
China already operates a three-person permanent station at approximately 250 miles above Earth.
The ISS will be guided into the Pacific Ocean after over 30 years of service.
The ISS has symbolised global cooperation and scientific progress since 1998. It has advanced biotechnology, medicine, and physics, while training astronauts for future exploration. In 2030, the ISS will retire, giving way to commercial stations and China’s Tiangong. Its legacy lies in proving humanity can live and work long-term in space.
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