Welcome to the ISS

Right now, about 400 kilometers above your head, a group of astronauts is hurtling around the Earth at 28,000 kilometers per hour inside a structure the size of a football field. They see 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets every single day. They drink water recycled from their own sweat. And they are conducting experiments that could shape the future of humanity. Welcome to the International Space Station.

The ISS is the largest and most complex structure ever assembled in space. It weighs approximately 420,000 kilograms, measures 109 meters end-to-end, and has been continuously occupied since November 2, 2000 — the longest continuous human presence in space. More than 270 people from 21 countries have visited.

Today, you are going to float through the station module by module, discover what daily life is like in microgravity, and learn about the cutting-edge science happening far above the clouds. Prepare for launch!