International Space Station

What's life like in low-Earth orbit? A guide to the latest science, insights, and experiences on our favorite space station.

Latest in International Space Station

an astronaut performs a space walk on the international space station. earth is visible in the foreground.

Should the International Space Station be dirtier? Should the International Space Station be dirtier?

By Lauren Leffer

Sierra Space Dream Chaser spaceplane landing on runway

Curvy spaceplane is one step closer to its ISS rendezvous Curvy spaceplane is one step closer to its ISS rendezvous

NASA astronaut working during spacewalk outside ISS

Starliner astronaut conducts spacewalk while stuck aboard ISS Starliner astronaut conducts spacewalk while stuck aboard ISS

ISS with lines pointing to docked Starliner spacecraft

Photographer catches impressive glimpse of Starliner docked to ISS Photographer catches impressive glimpse of Starliner docked to ISS

an astronaut on a spacewalk in a full spacesuit takes a selfie with earth in the background

Six months in space is not that bad for your brain Six months in space is not that bad for your brain

By Laura Baisas

Gloved hand pointing to LignoSat wooden satellite prototype

World’s first wooden satellite shares material with samurai sword sheaths World’s first wooden satellite shares material with samurai sword sheaths

ISS's first crew poses during water survival training.

November 2, 2000: The first residents move into the International Space Station November 2, 2000: The first residents move into the International Space Station

By Bill Gourgey

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching with ISS Crew-9

NASA warns SpaceX over safety issues after astronaut hospitalization NASA warns SpaceX over safety issues after astronaut hospitalization

Sierra Space TCPS machine

ISS astronauts to test trash compactor that’s basically WALL-E ISS astronauts to test trash compactor that’s basically WALL-E

three photos showing aurora from space

Astronaut shares dazzling footage of aurora from space Astronaut shares dazzling footage of aurora from space

By Popular Science Team

Satellite image of Hurricane Helene

What Hurricane Helene looks like from space What Hurricane Helene looks like from space

Starliner docked with ISS with Earth in background

NASA can explain Starliner’s spooky, pulsing sounds NASA can explain Starliner’s spooky, pulsing sounds

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams with two astronauts aboard ISS

Starliner astronauts are watering plants and fixing urine pumps on ISS Starliner astronauts are watering plants and fixing urine pumps on ISS

A sample location from the Sampling Quadrangle Assemblages Research Experiment (SQuARE), Square 03 in the starboard Maintenance Work Area of the International Space Station. An open crew berth is visible at right. The yellow dotted line indicates the boundaries of the sample area.

Astronauts conduct the first archeological study in space Astronauts conduct the first archeological study in space

European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano, Expedition 36 flight engineer, is pictured near food packages floating freely in the Unity node of the International Space Station.

Why food tastes more bland in space Why food tastes more bland in space

International Space Station orbiting above Earth

International Space Station

NASA is paying SpaceX to destroy the International Space Station NASA is paying SpaceX to destroy the International Space Station

NASA astronaut and Expedition 71 Flight Engineer Tracy C. Dyson is pictured in her spacesuit prior to the start of a science and maintenance spacewalk that ended early after her suit experienced a water leak in the service and cooling umbilical unit.

International Space Station

NASA is having one rough summer NASA is having one rough summer

In the era of private spaceflight, who gets to be an astronaut?

In the era of private spaceflight, who gets to be an astronaut? In the era of private spaceflight, who gets to be an astronaut?

By Briley Lewis

NASA astronaut and Expedition 68 Flight Engineer Woody Hoburg rides the Canadarm2 robotic arm while maneuvering a roll-out solar array toward the International Space Station's truss structure 257 miles above the Pacific Ocean. In the rear, is the SpaceX Dragon crew vehicle that docked to the Harmony module's forward port on March 3 carrying four SpaceX Crew-6 crew members.

‘Check his pulse one more time’: NASA accidentally airs ISS emergency test ‘Check his pulse one more time’: NASA accidentally airs ISS emergency test

Astronaut conducting spacewalk outside ISS

NASA astronauts will scrape microorganisms off ISS during upcoming spacewalk NASA astronauts will scrape microorganisms off ISS during upcoming spacewalk