The International Space Station

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The International Space Station

The International Space Station is the doorway to the future of mankind and the world as it is known.
The scientific and medical discoveries that will be made on the station could create billions of dollars
annually. A plan like this, arranged to benefit the whole world economy, should sound like a good idea to
every person, but some believe that the ISS is too risky, too ineffective, or too costly to create. Whether or
not the space station is worth the money, time, and effort, one thing is clear, everyone is interested in this
virtual floating laboratory and what assets or liabilities it will bring. The future of scientific
experimentation and exploration may be located, not on earth, but on the man made island called the
International Space Station.
Of all the factors that go into building a space station, construction of the massive object is the most
tedious objective. During the building of the ISS, tensions have run high several times when deadlines
were missed or funds were not available. This space station is the most expansive mission the world has
ever encountered. The International Space Station will be a fifteen country mission. When finished, it
will boast over an acre of solar panels for heating and energy, have a volume roughly sizable to two jumbo
jets, and contain four times the electrical power of the Russian space station, Mir. It will take
approximately forty-five flights over the next five years to assemble the one hundred pieces of the station
while circling the orbit of the earth (Goldin 11). This floating station, the size of a large football stadium,
which is traveling at over 17,500 miles per hour around the earth, will have a minimum life expectancy of
only ten years, although scientists hope for a much longer time. The station is so large that it will
sometimes be visible by the naked eye during the night (Chang 12). Many people agree with the idea of
some sort of space laboratory, but wonder why it has to cost so many tax dollars. Some estimates for the
station confirm that the cost has been underestimated by billions of dollars. Late last year Boeing beat out
several other competitors for the prestigious position of main contractor. NASA agreed to sign a 5.6
billion dollar contract with Boeing to build many of the essential parts of the space station. Russia is also
placing trust in this airplane superpower. They signed a 180 million dollar contract to build the Functional
Cargo Block, the un...

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