Our World: On Board the International Space Station
Learn about the global cooperation to build the International Space Station, or ISS. Use a simple scale model to demonstrate the amazing mathematical relationship between the Earth and moon and see how the low-Earth orbit of ISS compares. Since the production of this video, the International Space Station was completed (2011), though improvements continue to occur. The space shuttle was retired in July 2011. Resupply missions to the space station occur through partnering countries or commercial companies.
Discussion and writing prompts
1. Living on the International Space Station is very different from living on Earth. What do you think would be the biggest challenge of living and working in microgravity, and how do astronauts overcome that challenge? Use examples from the video to explain how the design of the International Space Station helps astronauts stay healthy, safe, and productive.
2. Everything on the International Space Station is designed to help astronauts live, work, and conduct scientific research in space. Choose one system or feature from the video (such as sleeping quarters, food preparation, exercise equipment, communication, or scientific laboratories) and explain why it is essential to the mission.
3. The International Space Station is more than a place where astronauts live—it's also a laboratory for scientific discovery. Why is it valuable to conduct experiments in microgravity that cannot be done on Earth? If you were a scientist planning an experiment aboard the ISS, what question/problem would you investigate that could benefit people on Earth or astronauts on future space missions?
Background Information
Grades 3 through 5
- NASA eClips Our World: Systems to Grow Plants in Space (video)
- NASA eClips Our World: Recycling on the International Space Station (video)
- NASA eClips Our World: Sleeping on the International Space Station (video)
Grades 3 through 12
- NASA International Space Station (webpage)
Grades 4 through 8
- NASA What is the International Space Station? (webpage)
Grades 4 through 12
- NASA International Space Station (webpage)
- NASA International Space Station: Frequently Asked Questions (webpage)
- NASA What is the International Space Station? (webpage)
- NASA Tour the International Space Station: 25 Years of Humans in Space (video)
Activities
Grades K through 8
- NASA International Space Station Activity Book (pdf)
- Story Time from Space (videos)
Grades 3 through 5
- Teach Engineering Life in Space: The International Space Station (webpage)
Grades 3 through 12
- Google Earth Visit the International Space Station (interactive)
- NASA Spot the Station (interactive)
- NASA In-Flight STEM Downlinks (webpage)
- NASA’s Eyes on the Solar System (interactive)
- ISS National Laboratory Lesson Plans (webpages)
- ISS National Laboratory Learn at Home Archives (webpages)
Grades 5 through 12
- NASA International Space Station Activity Kit (pdf)
- NASA More to Explore: International Space Station (webpages