(calm instrumental music)
The international space station
is a laboratory that orbits the earth
once every 90 minutes.
(soft instrumental music)
It's the most expensive single project ever constructed,
jointly owned and operated by the United States, Russia,
Europe, Japan, and Canada.
The ISS is a triumph of international collaboration,
but it didn't start that way.
During its planning phase, it came close to being dumped.
(upbeat instrumental music)
Tonight, I am directing NASA to develop a permanently
manned space station and to do it within a decade.
(crowd clapping)
It was 1984, toward the end of the cold war.
When president Ronald Reagan unveiled his plan
before the Congress.
It was soon called space station freedom,
but details were sketchy and plans kept changing.
NASA saw a space station as their next logical step.
The space shuttle had been designed
with on orbit construction as one of its primary functions.
(suspenseful music)
On a cold morning in January, 1986,
the Space Shuttle Challenger was being prepared
for its 10th flight.
And lift off.
Lift off of the 25th Space Shuttle Mission
and it has cleared the tower.
(rocket liftoffs)
Challenger, go at throttle off.
Roger, going at throttle off.
(rocket explodes)
All seven astronauts were killed
and the shuttle program was suspended.
Just one month later.
Cosmonauts began occupation of Mir,
the new Soviet space station.
The Soviet union had a longstanding interest
in extended duration space flights
with its Salyut space stations.
And with Mir, the Russians were gaining valuable experience
in microgravity research and on orbit construction.
(spacial music)
As the 80s progressed, Mir expanded
using modular fabrication techniques.
They began experimentation with automated docking systems.
New modules were delivered by the proton launcher
with the progress cargo ship used for resupply.
(soft spacial music)
NASAs shuttle fleet remained grounded
while an exhaustive inquiry was conducted
and Space Station Freedom was stuck on the drawing board.
(soft spacial music)
In 1989, discontent in Poland
spread across the Eastern block,
leading to the fall of the wall that had divided Germany.
Two years later, the Soviet union itself was dissolved,
followed by social and economic turmoil.
Moscow was now the capital of the Russian Federation,
a one party democracy.
The Mir crew EO10 arrived at the space station
as Soviet citizens and would return to the ground
as Russians.
The countries new space agency Roscosmos
had had its budget slashed by 80%
and there was no money to launch
two newly completed modules.
(rocket liftoffs)
In 1988, NASA had resumed shuttle flights,
but with the fall of the Soviet Union
interest among US politicians in Space Station Freedom
was at an all time low.
NASA now began working with Roscosmos
in the shuttle Mir program.
The Russians would benefit from an injection
of badly needed funds
and the Americans would gain expertise
in long duration space flight.
Astronauts learned Russian
and began riding to orbit in the Soyuz.
Cosmonauts learned English.
During the program.
10 cosmonauts flew on the space shuttle
and eight Americans served as crew members
aboard Mir with the shuttle docking
with the Russian space station nine times.
Roscosmos had begun work on a replacement Mir two project.
Completing the functional cargo block
and the DOS 8 habitation module,
but lack of funding forced the agency to shelf the plan.
NASA convinced the cash strapped Russian Federation
to come in on their project.
Europe, Japan, and Canada were also involved
in what was now called the international space station.
The functional cargo block was renamed Zarya
and became the first piece
of the international space station
delivered to orbit in November, 1998.
(rocket liftoffs)
Zarya was launched from Kazakhstan
with an orbital inclination of around 50 degrees.
This set the orbit for the international space station.
The space shuttle would deliver the bulk of the modules
from here on.
NASA knew that this orbit would give the shuttle problems.
Launched from Florida.
The shuttle usually orbited at 30 degrees.
To reach the steep inclination with any meaningful payload,
the shuttle needed more power, or it had to lose weight.
(soft ambient music)
A redesign of the Cargo Bay delivered some weight savings,
but the construction missions could only be achieved
with a new external tank made from a new lightweight alloy.
We have a go for main engine start.
We have main engine start, four, three, two, one.
We have booster ignition and lift off
of the space shuttle Endeavor
with the first American element of.
Two weeks after the launch of Zarya,
the space shuttle Endeavor lifted the unity node
to orbit.
Houston is now controlling Endeavor is rolling
course heading north east of McKennedy space center
toward a 240 mile high rendezvous
with the Zarya control module.
In preparation,
the crew connected the unity node to the shuttles airlock
and using the shuttle's robotic arm,
they united the two modules.
The crew entered the space station for the first time
unstowed equipment,
but no one would take up residence just yet.
Construction work just started.
It was 18 months before the arrival of the next module
Zvezda, the Russian habitation module.
It docked automatically with the Zarya module.
(spacial music)
In October, 2000,
the space shuttle discovery arrived with more pieces.
During four space walks.
The crew installed a structural trust and communications
equipment.
(soft spacial music)
Finally in November, 2000, the first crew
expedition one launched from Baikonur.
(rocket liftoffs)
Cosmonaut Yuri Gojenko was commander of the Soyuz
spacecraft.
Astronaut, Bill Shepherd was the commander of the team
once they were on the international space station.
And Sergei Krikalev
the most experienced member of the crew was flight engineer.
Much of the crews daily activity was devoted
to the unpacking and installation of equipment.
There are always problems that need to be solved
and maintenance to be carried out.
In microgravity, muscles lose tone.
One of the first pieces of equipment we set up
was an exercise bike.
Every crew member is required to do two and a half hours
of cardio exertion every day.
Unlike later missions, expedition one
carried out very little scientific research.
At this stage.
The stations primary laboratory module
was still on the ground.
But that would soon change.
(rocket liftoffs)
The crew of the space shuttle Atlantis
delivered the laboratory module called Destiny.
It was a radical increase in capability
for the space station.
(soft spacial music)
The laboratory is equipped with 13 international standard
payload racks that can house a variety
of different experiment modules.
But at this stage, they were empty.
With the Destiny module and a new much larger solar array.
The international space station was taking shape.
(soft spacial music)
A precisely organized launch schedule was unfolding
and it was expected that the space station would be complete
by 2006.
In November of 2002,
the space shuttle Endeavor took off
carrying the expedition six crew
plus a new piece of the space station superstructure
and two tons of supplies.
Returning to the ground.
No one realized that it will be the last time
a cosmonaut would fly on the shuttle
and that construction work on the ISS
would be suspended for more than two years.
Columbia Houston com check.
When the space shuttle Columbia broke up
during re-entry to the Earth's atmosphere,
all remaining shuttles were grounded.
Columbia, Houston UHS com check.
81 seconds after launch
foam insulation separating from the external tank
had damaged the left wing.
And from that point, Columbia was doomed.
(suspenseful music)
The investigation board had no confidence
that the entire space shuttle fleet
could be safely operated for more than a few years.
Calling the shuttle, an aging spacecraft.
(suspenseful music)
With shuttle flights suspended
construction work on the international space station stopped
Replacement crews were cut to two members.
The Russian progress freighter was the only method
of delivering supplies to the ISS
and all crew rotations used the Soyuz spacecraft.
(speaks in Russian)
What started out as Americas Space Station Freedom
was now completely reliant upon Russian technology.
It would be more than three years
before construction work on the space station recommenced.
In 2004, US president George Bush
made a speech to an assembled group of NASA administrators.
Our first goal
is to complete the international space station by 2010.
In 2010, the space shuttle
after nearly 30 years of duty
will be retired from service.
The space shuttle would be restricted
to work on the international space station
where the crew could await rescue if their craft
sustained damage.
Scientific work was cut to a minimum
with the small crews preoccupied
with station maintenance.
Fabrication work on the modules continued on the ground.
The space shuttle Discovery
made the return to flight mission in 2005.
Before docking with the international space station,
it performed the rendezvous pitch maneuver,
allowing the ISS crew to inspect the craft for damage.
It delivered supplies and equipment
and returned safely to the ground.
Atlantis arrived 14 months later.
And after a break of almost four years,
construction work began again.
In what became known to NASA astronauts
as the wall of EVA,
that's extra vehicular activity,
it took 14 more shuttle assembly flights to bring the ISS
to its current configuration.
If just one of the installation space walks was to fail,
it could threaten the entire project.
The schedule was relentless
because the shuttle's days were numbered.
Training for these assembly missions was intense.
NASA is neutral buoyancy laboratory was rigged
with a mock-up of the ISS.
So astronauts could experience something akin
to weightlessness while they practiced.
In July, 2011,
Atlantis flew to the ISS
on what was the final flight of the shuttle fleet.
The international space station was essentially complete.
Although it continues to be reconfigured
and new pieces can still be added.
It's 16 pressurized modules have a volume equivalent
to a five room house,
including laboratories, storage spaces and habitation areas.
(spacial music)
Power comes from eight solar array wings,
which track the sun.
When the ISS enters the earth shadow
the solar wings enter a night glider mode,
where they are angled edge on onto the orbital direction.
Though the ISS orbits 400 kilometers
above the earth surface.
There is enough thin atmosphere at that height
to present drag.
Night Glider mode reduces this drag
and minimizes orbital decay.
Supplies of water, oxygen, food,
and equipment are regularly delivered
by unmanned cargo craft.
Most frequent of these has been the Russian Progress,
which is similar in appearance to the Soyuz.
It docks by itself using the automated KERS system.
It can also be docked manually if the need should arise.
Like the Soyuz capsule,
the progress freighter will remain docked long-term.
As well as delivering supplies,
it can boost the station's orbit
or it can transfer fuel for the stations thrusters.
Ultimately, filled with garbage.
It undocks to burn up in the atmosphere.
The Japanese space agency JAXA
currently operates the largest cargo craft
that still visits the ISS.
To dock with the space station
it approaches in stages until it's close enough
to be grabbed by the robotic arm
and connected to one of the berths on the harmony node.
It has a pressurized zone that can be unloaded by hand.
And there's an unpressurized area
accessed by the robotic arm
for cargo to be stored on pallets outside.
With the demise of the space shuttle.
NASA has turned to the private sector
to fulfill its resupply commitments.
The Cygnus freighter first visited the ISS in 2014.
The SpaceX dragon cargo craft
first delivered supplies to the ISS in 2012.
It is different from the other cargo craft
in that it can return significant loads back to the ground.
Experimental materials from the ISS
can be in an earth based laboratory within two days
of leaving low earth orbit.
SpaceX is developing a dragon
capable of carrying astronauts to low earth orbit.
(soft instrumental music)
The business of the international space station
is research.
The study of fluid dynamics and material science
in a microgravity environment
simply cannot be done on the ground.
And the orbiting platform is the perfect place
for earth observation, meteorological studies and astronomy.
The study of plant development in microgravity
is of great interest.
One of the major areas of study
is into the effects of prolonged weightlessness
on the human body.
Without the resistance provided by gravity
muscles and bone deteriorate.
This is partially offset by regular exercise.
The ISS is equipped with a treadmill,
a cycle ergometer and a resistive exercise device,
all are shock mounted.
So as not to pass vibration across the station.
The loss of bone mass shows up as raised calcium levels
in the blood.
Blood samples are taken regularly
and stored at low temperature for later analysis.
The extra calcium can lead to kidney stones.
NASA and JAXA are cooperating in the study of an agent
that can prevent these effects.
Most astronauts on long-term missions
complain about deterioration in their vision,
which can persist for years after a flight.
Distinct changes to the eye have been detected
and ultrasound examinations of the eyes are done regularly.
(soft ambient music)
Astronauts and cosmonauts are totally reliant
upon the technology of the ISS
and it needs regular maintenance.
In August, 2018, a small but steady drop in air pressure
was noticed.
It was traced to the Soyuz MS-09 capsule.
A two millimeter hole appeared
to have been deliberately drilled
a nasty rumor about sabotage began to spread.
Cosmonaut Sergei Prokofiev
made a recording from the Soyuz to show the repairs
and to quash stories about poor morale on the space staion.
As you see, everything is calm.
We're living in harmony as always.
And all the experiments are going to plan.
Later, it was decided that a space walk
to cut away some of the external insulation from the Soyuz
above the hole might deliver more clues
about how the hole could have been made.
Because the Soyuz capsule is not designed
for external maintenance and lacks hand handrails.
It was a challenging job for the cosmonauts.
Do you remember?
It was difficult slicing through
the eight layers of the thermal blanket
used to stabilize internal temperatures on the spacecraft.
From the inside,
it appeared that the hole had been repaired with glue,
which gave out after the Soyuz had docked with the ISS.
You know, what's the...
It was thought that analysis of the glue
would shed more light on the mystery.
That is not necessary.
Because the hole was in the habitation module
it was no threat to the crafts safe return.
The blanket, which was left in a mess
is also not required during re-entry.
Now, I see it.
Russian cosmonauts, Sergei Prokofiev
European astronaut, Alexander Gerst,
and American astronaut, Serena- Aunon- Chancellor
had flown up on this spacecraft
and would be returning home on it.
Cut the visible portion.
When maintenance or repair work
has to be done outside the ISS or NASA
ISA or JAXA modules,
the crew members with the required expertise
have training in the use of the American space suit
known as the EMU.
Some crew members have training on the EMU
and the Russian Orlan space suit.
Those with experience in both
say that the American suit is more flexible and comfortable
yet it is very complex and takes a very long time to put on.
By contrast, the Russian suit is simple to put on
and it's designed to be easily serviced by cosmonauts.
Even the smallest equipment malfunction
can be life-threatening.
When ESA astronaut, Luca Parmitano
was installing cables outside the ISS
water started leaking into his helmet.
I feel a lot of water on the back of my head,
but I don't think it leaked from my back.
Are you sweating?
Are you working hard?
I'm sweating but feels like a lot of water.
Mission control called him back inside,
but by the time he had reached the airlock, he couldn't see,
and he couldn't hear.
His colleagues quickly got him inside
and removed his helmet along with more than a liter of water
Later, the empty suit was powered up
and the fault was obvious.
The water was leaking from the suit's cooling system.
A report blamed mission control,
who assumed that the water was coming from the in-suit
drinking water bag.
A crew will typically stay in orbit for around six months.
The arrival of a new crew
means that for three other crew members,
their stay is coming to an end.
They board the same Soyuz craft
in which they traveled to orbit
for the return to the surface.
Undocking of the capsule is precisely timed.
It separates initially by the spring mechanism
in the docking interface.
Only at a safe distance from the ISS
will the Soyuz make the first of its separation burns
to avoid contaminating the space station.
At a point in the orbit opposite
to their intended landing area, the retro burn happens,
slowing the craft for its descent into the atmosphere.
(slow ambient music)
This burn is precisely timed
and lasts four minutes and 45 seconds.
But this stage,
the descent capsule is still attached to the habitation
and instrument modules.
(soft ambient music)
In Kazakhstan.
A fleet of ground vehicles are heading for the landing zone.
Medical teams and recovery personnel from Roscosmos, NASA
and ESA are also in the air.
Explosive bolts fired to separate the three parts
of the Soyuz.
During the heat of re-entry,
the crew are out of radio contact with the ground.
In the upper atmosphere,
the drone shoot deploys further slowing the capsule.
And then the main shoot.
(soft ambient music)
On the ground, the crew are lifted from the capsule.
They're experiencing gravity for the first time in months,
and it will take them months to return to normal.
(speaks in Russian)
They are carried through the snow
and will soon return to their homes.
(upbeat ambient music)