1. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

2. ARTHUR C. CLARK’S THEORY Science fiction author Arthur C. Clark has an interesting theory about new ideas. He thinks they go three stages: Science fiction author Arthur C. Clark has an interesting theory about new ideas. He thinks they go three stages: 1. “It’s impossible – don’t waste my time.” 1. “It’s impossible – don’t waste my time.” 2. “It’s possible but not worth doing.” 2. “It’s possible but not worth doing.” 3. “ I always said it was a good idea.” 3. “ I always said it was a good idea.”

3. SPACE STATION SALUTE 1 Fifty years ago space station seemed totally impossible. Then, after the “possible but not doing stage”, the very first space station, Salute 1, was made in the Soviet Union. It went up in space in 1971 and was in orbit for about 6 months. Fifty years ago space station seemed totally impossible. Then, after the “possible but not doing stage”, the very first space station, Salute 1, was made in the Soviet Union. It went up in space in 1971 and was in orbit for about 6 months.

4. SPACE STATION MIR A much bigger station, Mir, was designed by Soviet scientists in the 1980s and it circled our planet for 10 years. A much bigger station, Mir, was designed by Soviet scientists in the 1980s and it circled our planet for 10 years.

5. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION Now the first “city in space”, the International Space Station (ISS), is already orbiting the Earth. When it is finished in 2010, it will be larger than a football field and weigh more than 200 tons! Now the first “city in space”, the International Space Station (ISS), is already orbiting the Earth. When it is finished in 2010, it will be larger than a football field and weigh more than 200 tons!

6. HUGE PROJECT The ISS is a huge project of Russia, the USA, Japan, Canada, Brazil and 11 European countries that make up the European Space Agency. This is the largest and the most expensive project of all time. The ISS is a huge project of Russia, the USA, Japan, Canada, Brazil and 11 European countries that make up the European Space Agency. This is the largest and the most expensive project of all time.

7. MODULES AND NODES The ISS is made up of a number of rooms known as modules and smaller connecting rooms called nodes. The Russian Zarya was the first module of the ISS in 1998. It’s used manly for storage. The ISS is made up of a number of rooms known as modules and smaller connecting rooms called nodes. The Russian Zarya was the first module of the ISS in 1998. It’s used manly for storage.

8. SOYUZ SPACESHIP “Soyuz” is one of the vehicles that take people to and from the ISS. There is one “Soyuz” spaceship at the ISS at all times, in case the cosmonauts and astronauts need to leave the station in an emergency. “Soyuz” is one of the vehicles that take people to and from the ISS. There is one “Soyuz” spaceship at the ISS at all times, in case the cosmonauts and astronauts need to leave the station in an emergency.

9. PROGRESS SPACESHIP The Progress is an unmanned version of Soyuz that brings food to the ISS and takes away trash. The Progress is an unmanned version of Soyuz that brings food to the ISS and takes away trash.

10. MICROGRAVITY Perhaps the most important benefit is that the space station allows humans to live and study for long periods in microgravity, or “weightlessness”. Perhaps the most important benefit is that the space station allows humans to live and study for long periods in microgravity, or “weightlessness”.

11. MICROGRAVITY Gravity influences almost every biological, physical and chemical process on our planet, and the space station gives us a rare opportunity to study a world without gravity and better understand gravity’s effects on plants, animals and humans. Gravity influences almost every biological, physical and chemical process on our planet, and the space station gives us a rare opportunity to study a world without gravity and better understand gravity’s effects on plants, animals and humans.

12. A STEPPING - STONE TO THE STARS The space station is also a stepping-stone to the stars. If humans are ever going to travel to other planets, such as Mars, we must understand the effects of such long journeys on the human body. The space station is also a stepping-stone to the stars. If humans are ever going to travel to other planets, such as Mars, we must understand the effects of such long journeys on the human body.

13. WITH HELP OF MICROGRAVITY CONDITIONS The microgravity conditions will allow scientists to create new materials, lighter and stronger metals and find new treatments for incurable diseases. The microgravity conditions will allow scientists to create new materials, lighter and stronger metals and find new treatments for incurable diseases.