Page 53 - Life beyond the Karman

Why Is the Space Station Important?
The ISS is a home in orbit to conduct research in various fields, such as astrobiology, astronomy, meteorology, physics, psychology, and medicine. This research helps us to understand the effects of microgravity and the space environment on living and working in space.
The ISS offers unique views to study the Earth’s weather, landforms, vegetation, oceans and atmosphere and to prepare for future missions to the moon or Mars.
ISS Communications
To stay in touch with Earth, the ISS station uses Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS) located 22,000 miles (35,400 kilometres) above the Earth. Signals containing voice, video and scientific data are relayed through these devices, which facilitate contact between the ISS and NASA’s mission control.
Major components of the ISS:
• Pressurised modules - the Zarya, Zvezda, Destiny, Columbus and Harmony provide breathable, warm environments for living quarters, equipment rooms and laboratories where the crews live and work.
• Nodes are small modules that link the bigger ones together, allowing astronauts to traverse the station and move equipment around.
• Docking ports allow various space vehicles to attach themselves to the ISS.
• The Integrated Truss Structure is a long, linear girder framework above the pressurised modules. It is the anchoring point for solar panels and for the radiators that help control the station’s temperature. It also contains the Mobile Base System’s rail lines.
• The Mobile Base System is a traveling work platform that runs along the truss structure rails. On board is a set of robotic arms that haul cargo and experiment packages.
• External Research and Payload Accommodations provide multiple mounting locations along the outside of the ISS for experiments that can’t be conducted within the facility.
• The Soyuz spacecraft and Progress supply ships dock with the ISS to transport astronauts and supplies to and from Earth.