From 2011 to 2020, astronauts relied solely on Russian Soyuz spacecraft for ISS access. Following a Soyuz failure in 2018, concerns arose about ISS crew rotation. NASA's funding for the ISS was threatened in 2018, leading to discussions on privatization. The ISS's future options include continued government funding or controlled deorbiting.
Updated June 2026 In this post I’ll talk about the history of the International Space Station (ISS) and some of the other space stations which have been constucted over the years. I’ll also touch on some of the politics involved. The International Space Station Image from NASA The First Space Stations Although America was the… Continue reading Salyut to the ISS: A Journey Through Space Stations
The International Space Station (ISS), initiated in 1998 with the launch of the Zarya module, symbolizes global cooperation, mainly between the US and Russia. Manned since November 2000, its construction relied heavily on the Space Shuttle program. Research on the ISS focuses on microgravity effects, including impacts on human health and material sciences. Transport is facilitated by Soyuz and SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
Update May 2026 This post has been replaced by the post: Twenty Years of the International Space Station
In 2014, NASA's Curiosity rover detected methane on Mars, suggesting an unknown replenishing process due to its short atmospheric lifespan. While Earth's methane largely originates from biological sources, the Martian findings remain ambiguous. Subsequent missions, including ESA's Trace Gas Orbiter, reported no detectable methane, deepening the mystery.
