International Space Station Facts for Kids
This web page contains International Space Station facts for kids and is a great resource for anyone of any age researching the ISS space station. We're going to provide you with accurate facts about the ISS from reputable sources. Alongside ISS facts, you'll get to see some amazing pictures of the ISS and additional resources on it.
The ISS facts below will help you understand what the International Space Station is, who owns the ISS, when the ISS was build, and other helpful International Space Station facts. We hope the below facts about ISS are helpful and make researching this space station interesting and fun.
If any of the below International Space Station facts are inaccurate or out of date, please contact us to let us know.
18 International Space Station Facts for Kids
- The International Space Station, also referred to as ISS, is a low Earth orbit space station.
- The first element of the International Space Station was launched into orbit on November 20th, 1998.
- The latest element of the International Space Station was launched into orbit on July 25th, 2019.
- There are two primary sections of the International Space Station, the United States Orbital Segment (USOS) and the Russian Orbital Segment (ROS).
- The United States Orbital Segment (USOS) was built and is currently operated by NASA and several other space agencies.
- The Russian Orbital Segment (ROS) was constructed and currently operated by the Russian Federal Space Agency.
- The total length of the International Space Station is 357 feet.
- The total weight of the International Space Station is 925.335 pounds.
- The total habitable space on the International Space Station is 13,696 cubic feet.
- The International Space Station is 100% powered by the sun using eight solar arrays that are each over 239 feet long.
- The International Space Station can generate between 75 and 90 kilowatts of power each day.
- There are over 350,000 sensors on the International Space Station that monitor the safety and health of the crew and the space station itself.
- The International Space Station has an estimated 2.3 million lines of computer code in among all its systems.
- The International Space Station has been continuously occupied by one or more astronauts since November 2000.
- The International Space Station orbits our planet traveling at speeds of about 5 miles per second.
- The International Space Station completely orbits our planet in about 90 minutes.
- The International Space Station orbits our planet 16 times in a 24 hour period.
- Astronauts on the International Space Station have to workout two hours a day to limit muscle and bone loss.
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Pictures of the International Space Station
A picture of the International Space Station on July 10th, 2011.
Credit: NASA
Credit: NASA
A close-up picture of the front of the International Space Station.
Credit: NASA
Credit: NASA
A picture of astronauts doing an EVA outside the ISS Space Station.
Credit: NASA
Credit: NASA
A picture of the Destiny laboratory on the ISS Space Station.
Credit: NASA
Credit: NASA
A picture of the Harmony module attached to the ISS Space Station.
Credit: NASA
Credit: NASA
A picture of the Columbus laboratory on the ISS Space Station.
Credit: NASA
Credit: NASA
Additional Resources to Research the International Space Station
- International Space Station Facts and Figures - Learn some cool International Space Station facts and figures on the NASA website.
- Fascinating Facts about the International Space Station - More awesome facts about the International Space Station on the Scientific American website.
- International Space Station - Britannica - Discover more information about the International Space Station on the Britannica website.
- International Space Station - Wikipedia - Find more historical information about the International Space Station on the Wikipedia website.