international space station
TRANSCRIPT
International Space Station
By: Cara Chernow, Courtney Sykes, and Amanda Feather
The Beginning
• Starting in 1984, President Ronald Regan has the first ideas of creating a permanently manned space station in constant orbit of the earth.
• Ten years later, President Clinton bring back the idea and the process begins.
• The first part of the station, Zarya, was scheduled to launch from Russia in 1997, being able to complete that part of the station in 2002.
• Unfortunately, because of problems with funding, the launching of the first section was pushed back to 1998.
• Even though the main parts of the station were delayed from taking off, there were service modules already up in the orbit.
Trouble with Takeoff
• With the new expected takeoff day approaching, more trouble occurs with funding and now new technical problems, too.
• Takeoff gets delayed until finally in February of 2001, the real work beings.
2001
• Destiny Lab is brought to the station in February.
• At home on earth financial problems were still occurring.
2002
• The focus is now on the station’s main truss.
• This was made to hold big power plants and other similar systems.
• Three new additions of the truss were added from Shuttle missions during this year.
2003
• Unfortunately, on February 1, 2003, a tragic event occurred in space. The Colombia Space Shuttle crashed on its way back to Earth.
• This event made the US shuttle at the station return home and stop construction for a period of time.
• With US astronauts not present at the station, the building was left up to the Russians.
• In order to conserve resources at the station during this time, the Russians agreed to reduce their missions from three to only two astronauts.
2004
• George W. Bush announces to NASA that another mission to the Moon will be scheduled.
• He wants to do this by using the funds from the cancellation of the Space Shuttle Program and the withdraw from the ISS.
• This new plan would work out that the Space Station Shuttle would stop being used in 2010, around the same time as the completion of the Space Station.
• In 2016 NASA will stop funding for the Station.
2005
• With problems with staff, supplies and funding still occurring, NASA prepared the Shuttle to return to the station this year.
2006
• Plans for future construction and missions are scheduled.
• This includes building the station so that by 2009 it is able to support a six-person crew at one time.
2007
• Future plans are continuously made.
• A $719 million modification to the ISS is made with Russia for crews and supplies through 2011.
2008
• Agreements with Russia and other European countries are made.
• A crew of Europeans and Americans is scheduled to go to the station in 2012.
2009
• The American segment of the station is complete.
• The fourth, and last, power-generating section is complete.
• The American section can now support its goal of a six person crew at one time.
Importance of the ISS
• The International Space Station is an important part of US history.
• Scientists have always been studying outer-space, and with the ISS that can be done much easier.