The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest space project. Fifteen countries are participating in this project: the USA, Russia, Japan, Canada and the countries of the European Space Agencies: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom. Project cost exceeds 100 billion US dollars. The assembly of the station in orbit began in 1998 and lasted until 2011. It is planned that the Russian segment of the ISS will continue to expand. Three modules must be added: multifunctional laboratory, docking and energy. Operation of the station will last at least until 2024. The operation of the station has been extended until 2030. From November 2, 2000, the station is habitable. From now on the stations are constantly working crews, which, approximately, in six months, replace each other.
The main stages of creation and life on the ISS include:

• The main components of the space station were delivered on 42 assembly flights: 37 on US space shuttles and five on Russian Proton and Soyuz rockets. The elements were designed and built independently in different countries and factories, and are assembled together in space for the first time.
• The space station took 11 years to build. The current station configuration measures 357 feet (109 meters) and weighs up to 1 million pounds (over 450 tons). Space elements stations are constantly replenished and reconfigured.
• 259 spacewalks were carried out to assemble, maintain and upgrade the space station.
• 15 countries have made a joint effort to create a space station in orbit, and this cooperation continues today. The main space agencies are NASA USA, Roscomos Russia, ESA (European Space Agency), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
• 276 people from 22 countries visited the space station.
• At any given time, about 250 scientific studies are being carried out at the station.
• The typical stay of an astronaut on a long expedition aboard an orbital laboratory is six months.