International Space Station (ISS): pros and cons of the project:
The International Space Station (ISS) is a modular space station in low Earth orbit that is a joint project between five participating space agencies: United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Russia's State Space Corporation Roscosmos, Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), European Space Agency (ESA), and Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The ISS was constructed in space from August 1998 to July 2011 and has been permanently manned since November 2000, which indicates more than 20 years of human presence in outer space.
The ISS is one of humanity's most significant accomplishments in the space exploration field. It allows for conducting microgravity experiments, which has been impossible for quite a while on Earth. More than 3121 experiments have been carried out on the ISS, for example, investigations of health effects, crystal growth, fluids, metals, astronomy, and meteorology. One of the benefits that microgravity has created is the advancement of knowledge of disease and the enhancement of better vaccines.
Expedition crews on the ISS have also tried out equipment crucial for human-crewed space flight in long-term space exploration. This includes life support systems, robotic assistants such as Robonaut 2, the production of tools through a 3D printer, and the cultivation of vegetables in Vegeta growth chambers. If humans are to set foot on the Moon or Mars, Columbian engineers say learning how to live and work 250 miles above Earth is priceless preparation.
The ISS stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, bringing together nations that were once divided. It symbolizes a shared scientific endeavour and a collective curiosity to learn more about our universe. As astronauts continue to push the boundaries of human exploration, the ISS keeps us all engaged and challenged, inspiring us to conquer the unknown.
Yet, the maintenance of the International Space Station is a formidable challenge. The harsh space environment takes its toll on components, necessitating frequent replacements. The threat of space debris and micrometeoroids is a constant concern, posing risks to the structure and the astronauts. The logistical aspect of supplying and transporting personnel to this floating space station is also a significant cost, with the overall cost of manned space flight since the 1980s estimated at around $150 billion.
While countries centre their goals on the Moon and Mars, the role of the current ISS after 2024 still needs to be discovered. Whatever programme succeeds the ISS will have inherited the structure of international cooperation and microgravity research that forms the basis for the current ISS, which future programmes can progress from.
