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Space Stations

✨ Houses in the stars

Space stations are large spacecraft designed to serve as laboratories where astronauts can live and conduct research while orbiting Earth. Unlike regular spacecraft that travel for short missions, space stations remain in orbit for long periods and allow crews to perform experiments in microgravity.

They contain living areas, scientific equipment, communication systems, and life-support technologies that provide air, water, and other necessities for astronauts. The first space stations were launched in the 1970s, including the Soviet Salyut stations and the American Skylab.

Today, the International Space Station (ISS), which has been continuously occupied since 2000, is one of the most important examples of international cooperation in space. Astronauts from different countries use it to study how the human body reacts to long stays in space, test new technologies, and conduct research in biology, physics, and Earth observation.

Space stations help scientists prepare for future missions farther from Earth, including possible journeys to the Moon and Mars.

💡 Did you know?

Do you know how people sleep in a space station? Since there is almost no gravity, you can't lie down on a bed because you would float away! Astronauts sleep in sleeping bags attached to the wall. This way, they don't risk floating around and bumping into things while they sleep.

The ISS (International Space Station) is so fast that it orbits the Earth in just 90 minutes. This means that astronauts see the sun rise and set 16 times a day! It's hard to tell when it's time for breakfast or dinner.

Did you know? Water is very precious in a station. Since you can't carry tons of water, you recycle it! The station has an incredible machine that turns sweat and even astronauts' urine into perfectly clean and drinkable water. Nothing is wasted!