when did the international space station go into space
1998
title: International Space Station text: International Space Station The International Space Station (ISS) is a space station, or a habitable artificial satellite, in low Earth orbit. Its first component launched into orbit in 1998, with the first long-term residents arriving in November 2000. It has been inhabited continuously since that date. The last pressurised module was fitted in 2011. The station is expected to operate until at least 2028. Development and assembly of the station continues, with components scheduled for launch in 2018 and 2019. The ISS is the largest human-made body in low Earth orbit and can often be seen with the naked eye title: International Space Station text: Russian space station called OPSEK. The ISS is the ninth space station to be inhabited by crews, following the Soviet and later Russian "Salyut", "Almaz", and "Mir" stations as well as "Skylab" from the US. The station has been continuously occupied for since the arrival of Expedition 1 on 2 November 2000. This is the longest continuous human presence in low Earth orbit, having surpassed the previous record of held by "Mir". It has been visited by astronauts, cosmonauts and space tourists from 17 different nations. After the American Space Shuttle programme ended in 2011, Soyuz rockets became the only title: Assembly of the International Space Station text: Assembly of the International Space Station The process of assembling the International Space Station (ISS) has been under way since the 1990s. "Zarya", the first ISS module, was launched by a Proton rocket on November 20, 1998. The STS-88 shuttle mission followed two weeks after "Zarya" was launched, bringing "Unity", the first of three node modules, and connecting it to "Zarya". This bare 2-module core of the ISS remained unmanned for the next one and a half years, until in July 2000 the Russian module "Zvezda" was launched by a Proton rocket, allowing a maximum crew of two astronauts or title: International Space Station text: interest in future co-operation in space exploration but fell short of confirming the Russian involvement. According to the original Memorandum of Understanding between NASA and Rosaviakosmos, the International Space Station was intended to be a laboratory, observatory and factory in low Earth orbit. It was also planned to provide transportation, maintenance, and act as a staging base for possible future missions to the Moon, Mars and asteroids. In the 2010 United States National Space Policy, the ISS was given additional roles of serving commercial, diplomatic and educational purposes. The ISS provides a platform to conduct scientific research. Small unmanned spacecraft title: International Space Station text: core of the cancelled Mir-2 space station, the hull of "Zvezda" was completed in February 1985, with major internal equipment installed by October 1986. The module was launched by a Proton-K rocket from Site 81/23 at Baikonur, on 12 July 2000. "Zvezda" is at the rear of the station according to its normal direction of travel and orientation, and its engines may be used to boost the station's orbit. Alternatively Russian and European spacecraft can dock to "Zvezda" aft port and use their engines to boost the station. Destiny, also known as the U.S. Lab, is the primary research facility