International Space Station:
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The International Space Station (ISS) is a space station, or a habitable artificial satellite, in low Earth orbit.
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Its first component launched into orbit in 1998, and the ISS is now the largest human-made body in low Earth orbit.
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It circles the Earth in roughly 92 minutes and completes 15.5 orbits per day.
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The ISS serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory in which crew members conduct experiments in biology, human biology, physics, astronomy, meteorology, and other fields.
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Five different space agencies representing 15 countries built the $100-billion International Space Station and continue to operate it today.
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The ISS programme is a joint project between five participating space agencies:
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NASA (United States),
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Roscosmos (Russia),
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JAXA (Japan),
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ESA (Europe), and
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CSA (Canada)
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Its ownership and use has been established by intergovernmental treaties and agreements.
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Continuous presence at ISS has resulted in the longest continuous human presence in low earth orbit.
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It is expected to operate until 2030.
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NASA plans to decommission it in 2031.