Poster - Europe and the ISS

The International Space Station, ISS, is the world’s largest international scientific venture ever. Partners include the USA, Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe.

The Station is a permanent base in space, orbiting 400 kilometres above Earth, offering unique opportunities for research in microgravity conditions and preparing for human exploration of the Moon and Mars.

European technology is playing an important role in numerous international elements of the ISS. ESA’s key contributions for the Station are the Columbus space laboratory and the ATV, the Automated Transfer Vehicle.

Other components include the European Robotic Arm, for assembly tasks and handling of equipment, the Cupola, a working area from which to control critical manoeuvres in space and monitor the Earth, and two connecting modules or nodes, commissioned by NASA and built by European industry under an ESA contract.