The ISS construction - From 1998 to Nowadays
Like we had already said in the page where we described the ISS’s modules, the ISS is modular. It is a big complex made of smaller parts called modules. In this page we will tell you the history of the construction of the ISS since the first module was launched back in 1998, to nowadays. The ISS has been improving at the pass of time due to the new docked modules, which have increased its possibilities and capabilities.
1998
2000
Annex I - ITS
(Off the main timeline)
2001
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2016
Future
The first launch. The first module that will end up in the greatest object orbiting the Earth.
In November 20th, 1998 at 6:40 UTC, a Proton vehicle lifted off from the Launch Complex 81 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The Zarya Module, also known as Functional Cargo Block, was at the fairing of that rocket. Zayra was the first module of the ISS orbit and it has a minimum lifetime of 15 years, altough it turns 23 this year.
Vehicle information
Proton
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PROTON
It has been active for more than 60 years, putting in orbit older space stations like Salyut, GLONASS satellites, modules of the ISS and not to forget the Mir Space Station.
Country: Russia
Status: Active [1966-Nowadays] (M and K variants)
Flights: 425
Diameter: 7.4 metros
Height: 53 metros
Fuel (1ª/2ª/3ª stage): N204 - H2NN(CH3)2
Fuel(4ª stage - K/M variants): LOX - RP-1
Liftoff thrust: 10470 kN (kilonewtons)
Unity, the module which unites the Russian and the American segment.
Two weeks after the first ISS Module was launched, Unity takes off at the cargo bay of Shuttle Endeavour. Unity is the module where the American and Russian segment are connected. Since it has 6 berthing ports, it’s a really important module during the ISS building. We will get into details later. Launching Unity into orbit was the first of 36 missions where the Shuttle carried several modules and parts to the ISS. This vehicle was really important during the ISS construction due to its capacity of launching crew and cargo together, and allowing to do lots of tasks, like doing EVAs without installing an airlock in the station.
Vehicle information
Space Shuttle
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SPACE
shuttle
It's 5 variants (Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour) were flying for around 30 years, making it the first reusable space vehicle. It made easier the ISS building thanks to its ability at the moment of transporting big useful stuff, as well as having an airlock inside, letting do EVAs (Extravehicular activities) from the vehicle. It made 36 flies to the ISS before it's retirement in 2011, doing nearly all the American segment construction.
Country: Estados Unidos
Status: Retired [1981-2011]
Flights: 135
Diameter: 8.7 metros
Height: 56.1 metros
Fuel (SRBs): NHâ‚„ClOâ‚„ - Polybutadiene acylonitrile
Fuel (SSMEs): LOX - LH2
Liftoff thrust: 34696 kN (kilonewtons)
Main parts: Orbiter (reusable), External Tank (non reusable) and Solid Rocket Boosters (refurbishable)
Zvezda, the service module, arrives.
In July 12th, 2000, another Proton rocket lifted off from the Launch Complex 23 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, carrying the second Russian module in this case, Zvezda. Zvezda was berthed to the port at the Zarya stern. With Zarya berthed, the ISS already had three modules: Zvezda, Zarya, and Unity.
Integrated Truss Structure (ITS) Construction - Annex I (off the main timeline)
In October of 2000, Shuttle Discovery brought in the mission STS-92 the first ITS part to the ISS. This structure includes many important systems to the station, like the solar panels and the radiators. However, now we will explain the ITS construction, which lasted from 2000 to 2009.
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The following text may be difficult to understand if it’s not seen graphically. We recommend watching the video below.
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“P” segments are those in port, which means, in the right.
“S” segments are those found in starboard, which means, on the left.
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Z1 Truss - October 2000: It is the first ITS segment being installed in the ISS. It includes a gyroscope that controls moment, wiring, and a little pressurized zone connected to the Zenith port of Unity. It will also be used to temporarily attach the P6 Truss, which has two solar panel pairs.
P6 Truss – November 2000: Today, it’s located at the farthest port area of the ISS. It has two solar panel pairs. Temporarily, it was attached to the
Z1 Truss to give electricity to the station while the ITS was being constructed. In 2007, the P6 segment was relocated to be in the ISS port.
S0 Truss – August 2002: It was attached to the Destiny module. It’s not docked – a metal structure holds it in place. It connects the electric and thermal control system from the ITS to the pressurized areas.
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P1 Truss – October 2002: It has dissipators to remove the leftover heat from the station and it also has rails to allow the movement of the Canadarm 2 trough him.
S1 Truss – November 2002: Twin from P1, but in this case is at starboard.
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P3/P4 Truss – September 2006: It contains two solar panel pairs, radiators and a system that allows rotating the solar panels so they receive sunlight more efficiently, generating more electricity.
P5 Truss – September 2006: It will let the P4 Truss connect to the P6 Truss.
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S3/S4 Truss – August 2007: Twin of P3 and P4 segment, but at the starboard.
S5 Truss – August 2007: It will connect P4 and P6 Trusses.
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P6 Truss relocation – October 2007: The P6 segment is removed from Z1 and relocated in P5.
S6 Truss – March 2009: Identical to P6. It contains two solar panels and radiators.
After explaining how the ITS was built, we come back to modules. We have separated the ITS building from the other elements to make everything easier to understand for you.
The First Expedition.
In November 2th, 2000, Bill Shepperd, Yuri Gidzenco and Sergei Krikalev were part of the first crew who lived in the ISS – Expedition 1. Since then, the ISS has been inhabited permanently.
Destiny - the US laboratory - incorporates.
In February 7th, 2001, Shuttle Atlantis launched with the Destiny module in her payload bay. It was berthed to the Unity module on February 10th, increasing the habitable area places of the ISS in a 41%. It has a window that, before the Cupola was launched, was the most important from the ISS.
Quest Airlock arrives.
On July 12th, 2001, Shuttle Atlantis carried to the station one of its most important components again, the Quest Airlock. It is a key element since it allows the ISS to do EVAs by itself, and a docked spacecraft is not needed anymore. It is divided in two zones: the equipment zone, where the suits and tools are gathered; and the airlock, which allows the crew going into space.
Pirs - third Russian module.
In September 14th, 2001, Pirs waved goodbye to earth to be berthed two days later to Zvezda module. It allows the docking of Progress spacecraft and it can be also used as an airlock for the Russian space suits. In 2021, it will be decommissioned – a modified Progress spacecraft will undock it from the ISS and deorbit it. It will destroy at atmospheric reentry. This will be done to allow the Nauka module to join the station, which hasn’t launched yet.
Harmony, Node 2.
In October 23rd, 2007, Harmony, the third out of three nodes, lifted off aboard Discovery. It was berthed three days after. Temporarily, it was berthed to Unity, to be later berthed definitely to the Destiny Module. The European and Japanese laboratories will berth to this module later on. With the berthing of this module, the ISS American Segment was considered complete.
Colombus, the European Laboratory.
Colombus, el laboratoro europeo, fue puesto en órbita el 7 de febrero de 2008 y acoplado al Harmony el 11 de febrero del mismo año.
Kibo, the Japanese laboratory.
During March and May from 2008, Kibo was put on orbit by a few STS missions. Kibo wasn’t able to be launched in a single launch because it had several components: The Pressurized Module, the Exposed Facility, the Experiment Logistics Module and the Remote Manipulator System, and all these modules don’t fit into a single Shuttle payload bay.
Poisk - Pirs' twin
Eight years later from the second Russian module integration, the third one was launched. Poisk, with a similar design to Pirs, was launched on December 10th 2009. It has the identical functions of Pirs.
Tranquility - Node 3, the last US module
Tranquility was launched on February 8th 2010 on board Shuttle Endeavour, and it was berthed to Unity four days later. It has with 5 berthing ports to other modules. Nowadays, the five ports are all occupied. The Cupola was launched with it, and it is now at the Nadir port.
Rassvet, storage and docking module
On May 14th 2010, Shuttle Atlantis carried Rassvet to the ISS to be docked four days later. This module is a storage module and it also allows Soyuz and Progress docking.
Leonardo, from temporary to permanent
In February 2011, Shuttle Discovery left the Leonardo Multipurpose Module permanently docked. Leonardo was used before to launch stuff to the ISS and also carry stuff back to Earth. It was loaded on a Shuttle payload bay, then it was docked into the station, and then back to the Shuttle. Since the Shuttle retired, it was decided to make the Leonardo module a Permanent Multipurpose Module and let him docked to the ISS permanently.
BEAM, the first inflatable module
BEAM (Bigelow Expandable Activity Module) was launched in April from 2016 inside the trunk of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. It is the first inflatable Module being docked to ISS and has exceeded everyone’s expectations, and his lifetime has increased until 2028. Nowadays it is used as a storage room.
Soon at the ISS...
Trough 2021 new solar panels are going to be installed in the ISS since the actual ones have degradation signs, which are considered nominal as they have been working for more than 20 years, which is the case of 06 Truss from the ITS. This solar panels will partially cover the actual ones. The rest will be exposed and will continue producing energy.
During 2021, Nauka, the Russian laboratory, will also be put in orbit. It's launch is set on July 15th.
In the coming years Axiom Space, a private company, will build new modules for the ISS, which will become independent from her when she reaches her end of lifetime.