International Space Station (ISS) after completion,artwork. At upper left,an ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) is approaching the Russian Zvezda module. At far right is the European laboratory module (Columbus,marked ESA). Across bottom are Progress and Soyuz capsules (black) docked with protruding airlock modules. Numerous solar panels (blue) supply power. This view looks outwards from Earth,with the Moon in the background. The ISS,built in stages since 1998,orbits at an altitude of around 360 kilometres,has been crewed since 2000,is scheduled for completion in 2012,and will remain in use until at least 2020 |