space station

                                                                   space station                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               The core module of the International Space Station was launched in 1998.

The ISS is divided into two main sections, the Russian orbital segment (ROS), and the United States operational segment (USOS).

USOS modules were brought to the station by the Space Shuttle and manually attached to the ISS by crews during EVAs. Connections are made manually for electrical, data, propulsion and cooling fluids. This results in a single piece which is not designed for disassembly.^[7]

The Russian orbital segment's modules are able to launch, fly and dock themselves without human intervention using Proton rockets.^[8]Connections are automatically made for power, data and propulsion fluids and gases. The Russian approach allows assembly of space stations orbiting other worlds in preparation for manned missions. The Nauka module of the ISS will be used in the 12th Russian/Soviet space station, OPSEK, whose main goal is supporting 

manned deep space exploration.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       A space station, also known as an orbital station or an orbital space station, is a spacecraft capable of supporting a crew, which is designed to remain in space (most commonly in low Earth orbit) for an extended period of time and for other spacecraft to dock. A space station is distinguished from other spacecraft used for human spaceflight by lack of major propulsion or landing systems. Instead, other vehicles transport people and cargo to and from the station. As of September 2014 two space stations are in orbit: the International Space Station, which is permanently manned, and China's Tiangong 1 (which successfully launched on September 29, 2011, after its launch was delayed from August), which is unmanned most of the time.^[1][2]Previous stations include the Almaz and Salyut series, Skylab and most recently Mir.
Today's space stations are research platforms, used to study the effects of long-term space flight on the human body as well as to provide platforms for greater number and length of scientific studies than available on other space vehicles. All space stations to date have been designed with the intention of rotating multiple crews, with each crew member staying aboard the station for weeks or months, but rarely more than a year. Since the ill-fated flight of Soyuz 11 to Salyut 1, all manned spaceflight duration records have been set aboard space stations. The duration record for a single spaceflight is 437.7 days, set by Valeriy Polyakov aboard Mirfrom 1994 to 1995. As of 2013, three astronauts have completed single missions of over a year, all aboardMir.                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Unlike previous stations, the Soviet space station Mir had a modular design; a core unit was launched, and additional modules, generally with a specific role, were later added to that. This method allows for greater flexibility in operation, as well as removing the need for a single immensely powerful launch vehicle. Modular stations are also designed from the outset to have their supplies provided by logistical support, which allows for a longer lifetime at the cost of requiring regular support launches.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The business arrangement for developing and marketing the station was recently clarified by Russian firm Orbital Technologies, who is collaborating to develop the station with the Rocket and Space Technology Corporation Energia (RSC Energia). ^[22]

• Excalibur Almaz, an international company based in the Isle of Man in the British Isles and headed by Arthur Dula, is developing a system integrated by a reusable space vehicle and a space station based on the technology of the Soviet military stations "Almaz".^[23]In this efforts, Excalibur-Almaz is co-working with a Russian corporation with a large tradition in aerospace technology, the military-industrial association "Mashinostroyenia".^[24]

• In December 2011 Boeing proposed using Node 4 as the core of an Exploration Gateway Platform to be constructed at the ISS and relocated via space tug to an Earth-Moon Lagrange point (EML-1 or 2). The purpose of the platform would be to support lunar landing missions with a reusable lunar lander after the first two SLS flights. It would also bypass the need for a L1 propellant depot for lunar missions. Other hardware would include an airlock, an 'international module', and a MPLM based habitat module.^[25]

• In February 2012 Playboy proposed an orbital "space club", in conjunction with Virgin Galactic. Their plans include a restaurant and a zero gravity dance club.^[26]

• India plans to upgrade its ISRO Orbital Vehicle to perform rendezvous and docking after the planned Indian human spaceflight programme.

See also[edit]

Spaceflight portal

• List of space stations
• Kerim Kerimov, lead architect behind earliest space stations
• Lunar outpost
• Lunar space elevator
• Martian outpost
• Propellant depot, future space station complexes may permit spacecraft to refuel
• Rotating wheel space station
• Timeline of Solar System exploration
• List of films featuring space stations

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A space station is an artificial structure designed for humans to live in outer space. It is distinguished from other manned spacecraft by its lack of major propulsion or landing capabilities—instead, other vehicles are used to transport crew and cargo to and from the station.

So far, only low earth orbit (LEO) stations, also known as orbital stations, have been implemented. These structures have allowed astronauts to live in space for periods of weeks or months, occasionally exceeding a year. The only space station currently in use is the International Space Station, a joint project of several nations.

Space stations have been used for both military and civilian purposes. The last military-use space station was Salyut 5, which was used by the Almaz program of the Soviet Union in 1976 and 1977.

One of the goals of space stations is to study the effects of long-term space flight on the human body. In addition, they provide platforms for larger numbers and longer durations of scientific studies than available on other space vehicles. Since the ill-fated flight of Soyuz 11 to Salyut 1, all manned spaceflight duration records have been set aboard space stations. The duration record of 437.7 days was set by Valeriy Polyakov aboard Mir, from 1994 to 1995. As of 2006, three astronauts have completed single missions of over a year, all aboard Mir.