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Sunday, Nov. 2, marks the 25-year anniversary of the primary crew of astronauts reaching the ISS. Since then, not a day has passed by {that a} human has not been in area.
Twenty-five years in the past, humanity discovered a long-term dwelling among the many stars aboard the International Space Station.
On Nov. 2, 2000, a trailblazing group of three spacefarers, together with one NASA astronaut, arrived on the iconic orbital outpost as members of Expedition 1. Now, for 1 / 4 of a century, not a day has passed by {that a} human has not been in area.
That means 25 years of people completing science experiments tailor-made for microgravity.
Twenty-five years of an uninterrupted glimpse into Earth’s cosmic neighborhood made potential solely by a station orbiting about 260 miles excessive.
And 25 years of astronauts from all around the world dwelling and dealing collectively to pave the way in which for future area exploration.
To mark the numerous 25-year anniversary, this is all the things to know in regards to the International Space Station.
What is the International Space Station?
The International Space Station has been stationed in low-Earth orbit for greater than 25 years, sometimes about 260 miles excessive, the place it has been home to astronauts from all over the world.
The orbital laboratory is operated through a global partnership of area companies, together with NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
More than 280 spacefarers from 26 international locations have visited the International Space Station, including 170 from the United States alone, in accordance with NASA.
How huge is the International Space Station?
About 356 ft lengthy, the station is larger than a six-bedroom home and has six sleeping quarters, two bogs, a fitness center and a 360-degree view bay window.
The area station additionally has sufficient docks for as much as eight spacecraft to be docked at one time.
Space station marks 25 years of people on board
As of November 2025, the International Space Station has reached a major quarter-century milestone.
Though the primary module for the ISS was launched in 1998, it wasn’t occupied till two years later. Since the Nov. 2, 2000, arrival of the Expedition 1 crew, the orbital laboratory has had people on board for 25 years.
That trailblazing mission was comprised of 1 American and two Russians, William Shepherd, Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev.
After launching Oct. 31, 2000, the three-man crew of Expedition 1 lived on the ISS for nearly 5 months earlier than they returned and landed March 21, 2001, again on Earth.
How many astronauts are on the ISS now?
Seven people live aboard the International Space Station.
That contains 4 astronauts who’re a part of a joint NASA and SpaceX mission generally known as Crew-11: NASA astronaut Zena Cardman; NASA astronaut Mike Fincke; Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA); and Russian Oleg Platonov, a Roscosmos cosmonaut.
Crew-11 launched Aug. 1 from the Kennedy Space Center close to Cape Canaveral, Florida, because the spacefarers made their enterprise to area aboard a Dragon capsule that was propelled into orbit atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
Also aboard the station is NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, who reached the ISS in April with cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky on a Soyuz capsule launching from Kazakhstan.
Together, the worldwide group of spacefarers are a part of Expedition 73.
What astronauts maintain station data?
Several astronauts who’ve been to the International Space Station maintain vital data from their time in orbit.
Frank Rubio, as an illustration, has spent extra consecutive days in area than some other NASA astronaut. Rubio was on the station for 371 days in 2022-23 after the Russian Soyuz capsule he took to the station encountered points, and a substitute needed to be despatched up.
Retired NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who now works within the non-public business for Axiom Space, has spent extra cumulative days in area than some other American. Whitson spent 695 total days in space throughout 5 journeys to the ISS, the 2 most up-to-date of which have been with Axiom Space.
Astronaut Suni Williams, who flew to the station in June 2024 with astronaut Butch Wilmore on the notorious Boeing Starliner, holds a document of her personal.
Earlier in 2025, Suni Williams surpassed Whitson’s document for essentially the most whole time any lady has spent on spacewalks. After finishing the ninth spacewalk of her profession on the finish of January, Williams has now spent 62 hours and 6 minutes suited up within the vacuum of area.
How a few years does the ISS have left? NASA plans to retire outpost
The International Space Station is an unbelievable spacefaring achievement that has been in orbit longer than different outpost of its sort.
But it will not stay operational without end.
Even now, plans are underway to find out how greatest to retire and deorbit the getting old laboratory – which has been marred by air leaks and different points – doubtless round 2030.
The station’s successor will come from the non-public business, as a number of corporations are engaged on designs for next-generation space outposts.
Contributing: Brooke Edwards, FLORIDA TODAY
Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected]
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