Abstract

Since its inception in 1958, NASA has conducted space exploration and planetary missions benefiting people around the world through the expansion of our civilization’s horizons, the acquisition of knowledge, and the development of new technologies and applications that have provided amazing advances in the quality of human life. The International Space Station (ISS) represents the latest step in humankind’s quest to explore and learn in order to improve life on Planet Earth. As soon as the ISS was habitable, researchers began using it as a laboratory to study microgravity and the space environment and discover how phenomena studied in space can benefit our daily lives. This unique scientific platform continues to enable diverse research opportunities with proven breakthroughs in the fields of human health, telemedicine, education, and observation of Earth from the vantage point of space.

In-line with the philosophies of Konstantin Tsilkovsky and Stephen Hawking, the ISS establishes a permanent human outpost in space with an orbiting laboratory and construction site that synthesizes the scientific expertise of sixteen nations. As United Kingdom’s own son Tim Peake, plans to embark on a historic journey to the ISS in 2015, it is timely to discuss how scientists from all over the world utilize the ISS facilities. Starting with a brief review of previous space stations, this lecture will provide an overview on how the ISS was built and supported, how it works, what it does, and how the crew lives. This will be followed by a highlight of the research facilities and types of research conducted on the ISS . The Kennedy Space Center’s noteworthy role in building and supporting the ISS will be discussed; however, the emphasis will be on ISS research and how it enhances the quality of life here on Earth for all people. Interspersed in the presentation will be unique videos and quotes from past ISS expedition crew members. The lecture will conclude with an Atlantis launch video, honoring the Space Shuttle’s role in building the greatest engineering project in the history of mankind.

Dr. Ravi N. Margasahayam currently directs the Ground Safety Review Panel (GSRP) as a Payload Safety Engineer for all Payloads and Orbital Replacement Units that are integrated at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida, USA , on their way to the International Space Station (ISS).