The ISS
The International Space Station is the biggest object ever flown in space. At night it can easily be seen from Earth, as it flies 400 kilometres above us. Many countries worked together to build the Station. The USA, Russia, Japan, Canada and Europe worked together as the largest team in the history of science.
Europe’s biggest ISS project is the science laboratory, Columbus, where scientists can send experiments to be carried out in weightless conditions. Many different types of experiments can be carried out both inside and outside this space laboratory.
ESA has also made the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), which is a delivery spacecraft that takes supplies to the ISS. It carries cargo like food, fuel and other supplies. ATV has been very successful and there are now plans to design an even more advanced version. This spacecraft would be able to return cargo and finished experiments back to Earth.
Last modified 25 November 2010
