International Space Station Views

Photographs of the International Space Station from different angles, captured in the blackness of space during shuttle missions.

Backdropped against the blackness of space, the International Space Station approaches the Space Shuttle Discovery, from which this digital still image was recorded during rendezvous and docking activities on flight day three.

STS102-326-034 (10 March 2001) ---Backdropped against the blackness of space, the International Space Station (ISS) is lined up for rendezvous with the Space Shuttle Discovery. One of the astronauts aboard Discovery took this 35mm photograph from the aft flight deck.

View of the International Space Station (ISS) taken by an STS-135 crewmember aboard Atlantis during the Flight Day 3 (FD3) approach for joint operations with Expedition 28.

S114-E-5676 (28 July 2005) --- This image of the International Space Station easing toward the Space Shuttle Discovery was photographed by one of the STS-114 astronauts in the orbiter's crew cabin.

S114-E-7274 (6 August 2005) --- The International Space Station and theSpace Shuttle Discovery begin their relative separation after their crewmembers concluded nine days of cooperative work. Undocking occurred at 2:24 a.m. (CDT), August 6, 2005.

Backdropped against the blackness of space, the International Space Station approaches the Space Shuttle Discovery, from which this digital still image was recorded during rendezvous and docking activities on flight day three.

S129-E-006455 (18 Nov. 2009) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space, the International Space Station is featured in this image photographed by an STS-129 crew member as Space Shuttle Atlantis and the station approach each other during rendezvous and docking activities on flight day three. Docking occurred at 10:51 a.m. (CST) on Nov. 18, 2009.

ISS013-E-82938 (20 Sept. 2006) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space, the Soyuz TMA-9 spacecraft approaches the International Space Station. Onboard the spacecraft are astronaut Michael E. Lopez-Alegria, Expedition 14 commander and NASA space station science officer; cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin, Soyuz commander and flight engineer representing Russia's Federal Space Agency; and spaceflight participant Anousheh Ansari. With Tyurin at the controls, the Soyuz linked up to the Zvezda Service Module aft port at 12:21 a.m. (CDT) on Sept. 20, 2006. The docking followed Monday's launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

STS088-719-059 (6 Dec. 1998) --- Backdropped against the darkness of space, the Russian-built FGB, also called Zarya, approaches the out-of-frame Space Shuttle Endeavour and the U.S.-built Node 1, also called Unity. Inside Endeavour's cabin, the STS-88 crew readied the remote manipulator system (RMS) for Zarya capture as they awaited the rendezvous.

This view of the International Space Station, back dropped against the blackness of space, was taken shortly after the Space Shuttle Atlantis undocked from the orbital outpost at 7 50 a.m. CDT during the STS-115 mission. The unlinking completed after six days, two hours and two minutes of joint operations of the installation of the P3/P4 truss. The new 17 ton truss included batteries, electronics, a giant rotating joint, and sported a second pair of 240-foot solar wings. The new solar arrays will eventually double the onboard power of the Station when their electrical systems are brought online during the next shuttle flight, STS-116.

S122-E-007026 (9 Feb. 2008) --- This digital still image of the International Space Station was photographed through an overhead window on the Space Shuttle Atlantis as the two spacecraft approached each other for a Feb. 9 docking. While STS-122 astronauts were recording photos of their home for the next several days, crew members aboard the ISS were clicking images of the shuttle, with the primary focus being on its thermal protection system.

. iss070e001769 (Oct. 4, 2023) --- The Roscosmos Progress 84 cargo craft is pictured docked to the International Space Station's Poisk module.

The Soyuz MS-19 crew ship, carrying three Expedition 66 crew members, departs the International Space Station after undocking from the Rassvet module. The Soyuz crew ship would parachute to a landing in Kazakhstan just over four hours later with NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and Roscosmos cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov.

S114-E-5660 (28 July 2005) --- This image of the International Space Station easing toward the Space Shuttle Discovery was photographed by one of the STS-114 astronauts in the orbiter's crew cabin.

S114-E-5659 (28 July 2005) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space, the International Space Station was photographed by an STS-114 crewmember aboard Space Shuttle Discovery during rendezvous and docking operations. Discovery docked with the Station at 6:18 a.m. (CDT) on Thursday July 28, 2005.

STS98-E-5307 (16 February 2001) --- The International Space Station (ISS) backdropped against the blackness of space following undocking. The photo was taken with a digital still camera.

JSC2011-E-054427 (June 2011) --- Computer-generated artists rendering of the International Space Station as of June 20, 2011. The European Space Agency's Automated Transfer Vehicle-2 (ATV-2) undocks from the aft port of Zvezda Service Module. Soyuz 27 (TMA-02M) is docked to MRM1. Progress 42 is docked to Pirs. Soyuz 26 (TMA-21) is docked to Poisk.

ISS026-E-006030 (25 Nov. 2010) --- The Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft departs the International Space Station on Nov. 25, 2010. Onboard are three members of Expedition 25 - NASA astronaut Doug Wheelock, commander; along with NASA astronaut Shannon Walker and Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin, both flight engineers. Yurchikhin, the Soyuz commander, was at the controls of the spacecraft as it undocked at 8:23 p.m. (EST) from the station's Rassvet module. The blackness of space and Earths horizon provide the backdrop for the scene.

S125-E-006928 (13 May 2009) --- An STS-125 crewmember onboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis snapped a still photo of the Hubble Space Telescope as the two spacecraft approached each other in Earth orbit prior to the capture of the giant observatory.

The ISS Progress 79 resupply ship from Roscosmos is pictured moments after undocking from the Zvezda service module's rear port competing 214 days of cargo operations at the International Space Station.

JSC2010-E-036839 (February 2010) --- A computer-generated artists rendering of the International Space Station as of February 2010 features a wide aft view of the ISS after the STS-130/20A installation of the Tranquility module, with its Cupola, to the Unity nodes port side.

STS98-E-5306 (16 February 2001) --- The International Space Station (ISS) backdropped against the blackness of space following undocking. The photo was taken with a digital still camera.

S130-E-011972 (19 Feb. 2010) --- Surrounded by the blackness of space, the International Space Station is featured in this image photographed by an STS-130 crew member on space shuttle Endeavour after the station and shuttle began their post-undocking relative separation. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 7:54 p.m. (EST) on Feb. 19, 2010. A partial shadow of Endeavour is visible on the solar array wing panels at lower right.

S100-E-5969 (29 April 2001) --- Backdropped against the blackness of space, the International Space Station (ISS) was photographed following separation from the Space Shuttle Endeavour. With six astronauts and a Rosaviakosmos cosmonaut aboard the shuttle, the spacecraft performed a fly-around survey of the station, which was inhabited by two astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut. The image was recorded with a digital still camera.

ISS005-E-19267 (1 November 2002) --- A Soyuz spacecraft approaches the Pirs docking compartment on the International Space Station (ISS) carrying the Soyuz 5 taxi crew, Commander Sergei Zalyotin, Belgian Flight Engineer Frank DeWinne, and Flight Engineer Yuri V. Lonchakov for an eight-day stay on the station. The new Soyuz TMA-1 vehicle was designed to accommodate larger or smaller crewmembers, and is equipped with upgraded computers, a new cockpit control panel and improved avionics. Zalyotin and Lonchakov represent Rosaviakosmos and DeWinne represents the European Space Agency (ESA). The blackness of space and Earths horizon provide the backdrop for the scene.

ISS007-E-14456 (4 September 2003) --- An unpiloted Progress 11 supply vehicle departs from the Pirs Docking Compartment on the International Space Station (ISS) at 2:42 p.m. (CDT) on September 4, 2003 for another month alone in orbit, as part of a Russian scientific experiment. It will then be deorbited with its load of trash and unneeded equipment and burn in the Earths atmosphere.

ISS018-E-009880 (30 Nov. 2008) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space, an unpiloted Progress supply vehicle approaches the International Space Station, bringing more than two tons of food, fuel, oxygen and other supplies to the Expedition 18 crewmembers aboard the station. Progress 31 docked to the Pirs Docking Compartment at 6:28 a.m. (CST) on Nov. 30, after a four day flight from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

S115-E-05497 (11 Sept. 2006) --- One of the STS-115 crewmembers aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis took this picture of the International Space Station prior to the docking of the two spacecraft. The subsequent link-up will allow the STS-115 astronauts and the ISS Expedition 13 crew to team up for several days of key tasks in space.

ISS015-E-20207 (5 Aug. 2007) --- Backdropped by a blue and white Earth, an unpiloted Progress supply vehicle approaches the International Space Station. The Progress 26 resupply craft launched at 12:34 p.m. (CDT) on Aug. 2, 2007 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Progress automatically docked to the Pirs Docking Compartment Sunday at 1:40 p.m. (CDT) on Aug. 5 delivering more than 2.5 tons of food, fuel, oxygen and other supplies to the Expedition 15 crewmembers onboard the station.

ISS030-E-050751 (23 Jan. 2012) --- The unpiloted ISS Progress 45 supply vehicle departs from the International Space Station at 5:10 p.m. (EST) on Jan. 23, 2012. Filled with trash and discarded items, Progress 45 was later deorbited, subsequently burning up in Earth's atmosphere. The departure of Progress 45 clears the way for the next unpiloted supply ship, Progress 46, which is set to launch at 6:06 p.m. (EST) on Jan. 25 (5:06 a.m. Baikonur time Jan. 26) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan bringing 2.9 tons of food, fuel and supplies for the residents of the space station.

STS98-E-5318 (16 February 2001) --- The International Space Station (ISS) backdropped against the blackness of space following undocking. The photo was taken with a digital still camera.

ISS007-E-14444 (4 September 2003) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space, an unpiloted Progress 11 supply vehicle departs from the Pirs Docking Compartment on the International Space Station (ISS) at 2:42 p.m. (CDT) on September 4, 2003 for another month alone in orbit, as part of a Russian scientific experiment. It will then be deorbited with its load of trash and unneeded equipment and burn in the Earths atmosphere.

iss070e035485 (Dec. 3, 2023) --- The Progress 86 cargo craft approaches the International Space Station's Poisk module ahead of its docking at 6:18 a.m. EST.

iss064e000143 (Oct. 21, 2020) --- The Soyuz MS-16 crew ship, with Expedition 63 crewmates Chris Cassidy of NASA and Roscosmos cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner, departs the International Space Station moments after undocking from the Rassvet module. The trio would parachute to Earth inside the Soyuz' descent module just a few hours later.

ISS013-E-38946 (19 June 2006) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space, an unpiloted Progress 20 supply vehicle departs from the Pirs Docking Compartment of the International Space Station on June 19, 2006, carrying its load of trash and unneeded equipment to be deorbited and burned up in Earth's atmosphere. The undocking clears the way for the arrival of a new Progress 22, planned to launch June 24 and dock with the station on June 26.

ISS021-E-008112 (17 Oct. 2009) --- An unpiloted ISS Progress resupply vehicle approaches the International Space Station, bringing 1,918 pounds of propellant, 110 pounds of oxygen and air, 926 pounds of water and 1,750 pounds of spare parts and supplies for the Expedition 21 crew members aboard the station. Progress 35 docked to the Pirs Docking Compartment at 8:40 p.m. (CDT), Oct. 17, 2009, after a three-day flight from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

October 9, 2010 - The Soyuz TMA-01M spacecraft approaches the International Space Station.

ISS019-E-022039 (29 May 2009) --- The Soyuz TMA-15 spacecraft approaches the International Space Station, carrying cosmonaut Roman Romanenko, European Space Agency astronaut Frank De Winne and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk, all Expedition 20 flight engineers. The crew launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 5:34 a.m. (CDT), May 27, 2009, and arrived at the station at 7:34 a.m. (CDT) on May 29. Later that day, hatches opened between the two spacecraft, beginning Expedition 20 and six-person crew operations.

S134-E-011548 (29 May 2011) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space, the International Space Station is featured in this image photographed by an STS-134 crew member on the space shuttle Endeavour after the station and shuttle began their post-undocking relative separation. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 11:55 p.m. (EDT) on May 29, 2011. Endeavour spent 11 days, 17 hours and 41 minutes attached to the orbiting laboratory.

ISS006-E-48579 (28 April 2003) --- Backdropped against the blackness of space, the Soyuz TMA-2 spacecraft approaches the International Space Station (ISS). Onboard the spacecraft are the Expedition Seven crewmembers, cosmonaut Yuri I. Malenchenko, mission commander representing Rosaviakosmos, and astronaut Edward T. Lu, NASA ISS science officer and flight engineer. The Soyuz docked at the functional cargo block (FGB) nadir port at 12:56 a.m. (CDT) on April 28, 2003.

ISS034-E-060667 (3 March 2013) --- This is one of a series of photos taken by the Expedition 34 crew members aboard the International Space Station during the March 3 approach, capture and docking of the SpaceX Dragon. Thus the spacecraft begins its scheduled three-week-long stay at the orbiting space station.

S76-E-5140 (24 March 1996) --- Russia's Mir Space Station appears near the center of this frame, recorded with an Electronic Still Camera (ESC) onboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis as the crew members from both spacecraft readied for the rendezvous and docking operations.

ISS038-E-001127 (10 Nov. 2013) --- The Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft departs from the International Space Stations Zvezda Service Module and heads toward a landing near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Nov. 11, 2013 (Kazakh time). Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin, Expedition 37 commander; along with NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg and European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano, both flight engineers, are ending a five-and-a-half month stay at the space station where they served as members of the Expedition 36 and 37 crews.

ISS039-E-005662 (27 March 2014) --- A view from the International Space Station shows the Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft shortly before docking of the two orbiting vehicles. Onboard the Soyuz at this time were incoming Expedition 39 crew members -- Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos. Onboard the orbiting complex were Expedition 39 Commander Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA and Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos.

ISS040-E-128792 (6 Sept. 2014) --- The NanoRacks Cubesat deployer, attached to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agencys Kibo robotic arm, can be seen in upper center of this photograph, exposed by one of the Expedition 40 crew members aboard the International Space Station, flying 228 nautical miles above Earth on Sept. 6, 2014. Surrounded by a variety of solar array panels supporting various components of the orbital outpost is the Cupola, partly in darkness. Soyuz 39 TMA-13M is docked to Rassvet at right.

. iss068e047046 (Feb. 7, 2023) - The ISS Progress 81 resupply ship from Roscosmos is pictured moments after undocking from the Zvezda service module's rear port. It would later reenter the Earth's atmosphere above the Pacific Ocean for a safe demise completing an eight-month International Space Station resupply mission.

JSC2010-E-180117 (October 2010) --- Computer-generated artists rendering of the International Space Station as of Oct. 25, 2010. Progress 37 resupply vehicle undocks from the Pirs Docking Compartment. Progress 39 resupply vehicle remains docked to the Zvezda Service Modules aft port. Soyuz 23 (TMA-19) is attached to the Rassvet Mini-Research Module 1 (MRM1) and Soyuz 24 (TMA-01M) is linked to the Poisk Mini-Research Module 2 (MRM2).

S135-E-006702 (10 July 2011) --- This is one of a series of images showing the International Space Station photographed by a crewmember onboard the space shuttle Atlantis as the two spacecraft performed rendezvous and docking operations on the STS-135 mission's third day in Earth orbit.

ISS013-E-43030 (26 June 2006) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space, an unpiloted Progress supply vehicle approaches the International Space Station. The Progress 22 resupply craft launched at 10:08 a.m. (CDT) on June 24, 2006 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to deliver 2.5 tons of food, water, fuel, oxygen and other supplies to the Expedition 13 crewmembers onboard the station. Progress automatically docked to the Pirs Docking Compartment at 11:25 a.m. (CDT) on June 26 as the spacecraft and the station flew approximately 220 miles above a point near northern Africa.

ISS014-E-19095 (9 April 2007) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space, the Soyuz 14 (TMA-10) spacecraft approaches the International Space Station. Onboard the spacecraft are cosmonauts Fyodor N. Yurchikhin, Expedition 15 commander; and Oleg V. Kotov, Soyuz commander and flight engineer, both representing Russia's Federal Space Agency; along with spaceflight participant Charles Simonyi. With Kotov at the controls, the Soyuz linked up to the Zarya module nadir port at 2:10 p.m. (CDT) on April 9, 2007. The docking followed Saturday's launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

S130-E-010984 (20 Feb. 2010) --- This view of the International Space Station was photographed by one of the STS-130 crewmembers aboard the space shuttle Endeavour shortly after the relative separation of the two spacecraft on Feb. 20, 2010. The objects on the left side of the frame are window reflections from inside the shuttle.

S130-E-012215 (19 Feb. 2010) --- A close-up view of a portion of the International Space Station is featured in this image photographed by an STS-130 crew member on space shuttle Endeavour after the station and shuttle began their post-undocking relative separation. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 7:54 p.m. (EST) on Feb. 19, 2010. The newly-installed Tranquility node and Cupola are visible at top center.

The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft above Earth's horizon

iss058e029952 (March 15, 2019) --- The Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft that launched three new Expedition 59-60 crew members to the International Space Station is pictured approaching its docking port on the Rassvet module. Cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin from Roscosmos commanded the Soyuz crew ship flanked by NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch during the five-hour, 47-minute trip that began at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

ISS039-E-000067 (11 March 2014) --- As photographed by one of the Expedition 39 crew members aboard the International Space Station, the Soyuz TMA-10M spacecraft heads toward Earth with the Expedition 38 crew aboard. Onboard the Soyuz were NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins and cosmonauts Oleg Kotov and Sergey Ryazanskiy. The trio had served 166 days in Earth orbit as members of the Expedition 37 and 38 crews.

JSC2012-E-036590 (March 2012) --- Computer-generated artists rendering of the International Space Station as of March 28, 2012. European Space Agencys Automated Transfer Vehicle-3 (ATV-3) Edoardo Amaldi docks to the Zvezda Service Module. Progress 46 is linked to the Pirs Docking Compartment. Soyuz 29 (TMA-03M) is attached to the Rassvet Mini-Research Module 1 (MRM1) and Soyuz 28 (TMA-22) is docked to the Poisk Mini-Research Module 2 (MRM2).

ISS031-E-018530 (6 May 2012) --- While most of the world's population had no trouble at all finding the full moon on the weekend of May 5-6, one has to look really closely to spot Earth's satellite in the space traveler's eye-view aboard the International Space Station, some 240 miles above Earth. The moon can be seen just to the left of the station's Cupola and just to the right of one of its solar array panels. While the photo was recorded around midnight on May 5 in the central daylight time zone, it was already early May 6 GMT. Three Expedition 31 crew members await the arrival of three additional crewmates in a little more than a week.

April 24, 2005 - Backdropped by the blackness of space and airglow of Earth's horizon, the Soyuz TMA-5 spacecraft departs from the International Space Station.

May 31, 2012 - The SpaceX Dragon cargo craft is pictured just prior to being released by the International Space Station's Canadarm2 robotic arm, to allow it to head toward a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

ISS027-E-036685 (23 May 2011) --- This image of the International Space Station and the docked space shuttle Endeavour, flying at an altitude of approximately 220 miles, was taken by Expedition 27 crew member Paolo Nespoli from the Soyuz TMA-20 following its undocking on May 23, 2011 (USA time). The pictures taken by Nespoli are the first taken of a shuttle docked to the International Space Station from the perspective of a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. Onboard the Soyuz were Russian cosmonaut and Expedition 27 commander Dmitry Kondratyev; Nespoli, a European Space Agency astronaut; and NASA astronaut Cady Coleman. Coleman and Nespoli were both flight engineers. The three landed in Kazakhstan later that day, completing 159 days in space.

ISS041-E-035053 (25 Sept. 2014) --- The Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft approaches the International Space Station, carrying Expedition 41 Soyuz Commander Alexander Samokutyaev, NASA Flight Engineer Barry Wilmore and Russian Flight Engineer Elena Serova. The Soyuz safely ferried the trio to the stations Poisk Mini-Research Module 2 (MRM2) despite a port solar array that wouldnt deploy until after its docking on Sept. 25, 2014.

ISS038-E-001205 (10 Nov. 2013) --- The Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft departs from the International Space Stations Zvezda Service Module and heads toward a landing near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Nov. 11, 2013 (Kazakh time). Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin, Expedition 37 commander; along with NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg and European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano, both flight engineers, are ending a five-and-a-half month stay at the space station where they served as members of the Expedition 36 and 37 crews.

S100-E-5159 (21 April 2001) --- One of the crew members aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour used a digital still camera to record this image of the International Space Station (ISS), backdropped against the blackness of space.

iss065e018827 (April 27, 2021) --- Russia's ISS Progress 75 cargo craft is pictured from the International Space Station after it undocked from the Zvezda service module's aft port where it stayed for just over a year. The trash-filled 75P reentered Earth's atmosphere above the South Pacific for a fiery, but safe demise a day later.

A Russian Soyuz spacecraft departs from the International Space Station (ISS) with its crew of three ending an eight-day stay. Aboard the craft are Commander Victor Afanasyev, Flight Engineer Konstantin Kozeev, both representing Rosaviakosmos, and French Flight Engineer Claudie Haignere. Their mission was to carry out a flight program for the French Space Agency (CNES) under a commercial contract with the Russian Aviation and Space Agency.

ISS048e024550 (07/09/2016) This image was acquired after the launch of the Expedition 48-Crew on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Soyuz spacecraft is approaching the International Space Station with new crew members Kate Rubins of NASA, Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos, and Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

ISS021-E-024527 (12 Nov. 2009) --- The new unpiloted Russian Mini-Research Module 2 (MRM2), also known as Poisk, approaches the International Space Station. The MRM2 docked to the space-facing port of the Zvezda Service Module at 9:41 a.m. (CST) on Nov. 12, 2009. It began its trip to the station when it was launched aboard a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Nov. 10. Poisk is a Russian term that translates to search, seek and explore. It will provide an additional docking port for visiting Russian spacecrafts and will serve as an extra airlock for spacewalkers wearing Russian Orlan spacesuits. Poisk joins a Russian Progress resupply vehicle and two Russian Soyuz spacecraft currently docked at the station.

ISS014-E-12144 (16 Jan. 2007) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space, an unpiloted Progress 22 supply vehicle departs from the Pirs Docking Compartment of the International Space Station on Jan. 16, 2007, carrying its load of trash and unneeded equipment to be deorbited and burned up in Earth's atmosphere. The undocking clears the way for the arrival of a new Progress 24, planned to launch January 17 and dock with the station on January 19.

ISS014-E-19086 (9 April 2007) --- Backdropped by a cloud-covered Earth, the Soyuz 14 (TMA-10) spacecraft approaches the International Space Station. Onboard the spacecraft are cosmonauts Fyodor N. Yurchikhin, Expedition 15 commander; and Oleg V. Kotov, Soyuz commander and flight engineer, both representing Russia's Federal Space Agency; along with spaceflight participant Charles Simonyi. With Kotov at the controls, the Soyuz linked up to the Zarya module nadir port at 2:10 p.m. (CDT) on April 9, 2007. The docking followed Saturday's launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

ISS024-E-014241 (12 Sept. 2010) --- Backdropped by Earths horizon and the blackness of space, an unpiloted ISS Progress resupply vehicle approaches the International Space Station, bringing about 2 tons of food, fuel, oxygen, propellant and supplies for the Expedition 24 crew members aboard the station. Progress 39 successfully docked to the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module at 7:58 a.m. (EDT) on Sept. 12, 2010. The docking was executed flawlessly by the Kurs automated rendezvous system.

The Gateway space station will be humanity's first space station in lunar orbit as a vital component of the Artemis missions to return humans to the Moon for scientific discovery and chart a path for humans to Mars.

S117-E-08001 (19 June 2007) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space, the International Space Station moves away from the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Earlier the STS-117 and Expedition 15 crews concluded about eight days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 9:42 a.m. (CDT) on June 19, 2007. Astronaut Lee Archambault, STS-117 pilot, was at the controls for the departure and fly-around, which gave Atlantis' crew a look at the station's new expanded configuration.

ISS010-E-24857 (16 April 2005) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space and Earths horizon, the Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft approaches the International Space Station (ISS). Onboard the spacecraft are cosmonaut Sergei K. Krikalev, Expedition 11 commander representing Russia's Federal Space Agency; astronaut John L. Phillips, NASA ISS science officer and flight engineer; and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Roberto Vittori of Italy. The Soyuz linked to the Pirs Docking Compartment at 9:20 p.m. (CDT) on April 16, 2005 as the two spacecraft flew over eastern Asia. The docking followed Fridays launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

STS032-87-030 (10 Jan 1990) --- The Syncom IV-5 communications satellite leaves the cargo bay of Columbia, as crewmembers aboard the record-setting Space Shuttle successfully complete the first of two major tasks for STS-32. Two days later, the five astronauts successfully captured the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF). The Syncom satellite, also called Leasat, is to be leased to the U.S. Navy by Hughes Aircraft Co. The crew went on to spend 11 days aboard Columbia before a successful landing at Edwards Air Force Base.

ISS036-E-007816 (15 June 2013) --- Surrounded by the blackness of space, the European Space Agency's Automated Transfer Vehicle-4 (ATV-4) Albert Einstein” approaches the International Space Station. The spacecraft went on to successfully dock to the orbital outpost at 2:07 GMT, June 15, 2013, following a ten-day period of free-flight.

Lunar Gateway space station concept, complete view.

Chinese Space Station Tiangong 2022, complete view.

International Space Station

International Space Station, illustration

S121-E-06057 (8 July 2006) --- Astronauts Piers J. Sellers (red stripes) and Michael E. Fossum, STS-121 mission specialists, work in tandem on the shuttle's Remote Manipulator System/Orbiter Boom Sensor System (RMS/OBSS) during the mission's first scheduled session of extravehicular activity (EVA).

STS98-E-5308 (16 February 2001) --- The International Space Station (ISS) backdropped against the blackness of space following undocking. The photo was taken with a digital still camera.

This is a view of the Russian Mir Space Station photographed by a crewmember of the fifth Shuttle/Mir docking mission, STS-81. The image shows upper center - Progress supply vehicle, Kvant-1 module, and Core module; center left - Priroda module; center right - Spektr module; bottom left - Kvant-2 module; bottom center - Soyuz; and bottom right - Kristall module and Docking module. The Progress was an unmarned, automated version of the Soyuz crew transfer vehicle, designed to resupply the Mir. The Kvant-1 provided research in the physics of galaxies, quasars, and neutron stars, by measuring electromagnetic spectra and x-ray emissions. The Core module served as the heart of the space station and contained the primary living and working areas, life support, and power, as well as the main computer, communications, and control equipment. Priroda's main purpose was Earth remote sensing. The Spektr module provided Earth observation. It also supported research into biotechnology, life sciences

The International Space Station (ISS), with the newly installed U.S. Laboratory, Destiny, is backdropped over clouds, water and land in South America. South Central Chile shows up at the bottom of the photograph. Just below the Destiny, the Chacao Charnel separates the large island of Chile from the mainland and connects the Gulf of Coronado on the Pacific side with the Gulf of Ancud, southwest of the city of Puerto Montt. The American-made Destiny module is the cornerstone for space-based research aboard the orbiting platform and the centerpiece of the ISS, where unprecedented science experiments will be performed in the near-zero gravity of space. Destiny will also serve as the command and control center for the ISS. The aluminum module is 8.5-meters (28-feet) long and 4.3-meters (14-feet) in diameter. The laboratory consists of three cylindrical sections and two endcones with hatches that will be mated to other station components. A 50.9-centimeter (20-inch-) diameter window is loca

ISS022-E-055688 (4 Feb. 2010) --- An unpiloted ISS Progress resupply vehicle approaches the International Space Station, bringing over two tons of food, fuel and supplies for the Expedition 22 crew members aboard the station. Progress 36 docked to the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module at 10:26 p.m. (CST) on Feb. 4, 2010, after a three-day flight from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

ISS012-E-05001 (10 October 2005) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space, the Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft departs from the international space station carrying Russian Federal Space Agency cosmonaut Sergei K. Krikalev, Expedition 11 commander; astronaut John L. Phillips, Expedition 11 NASA science officer and flight engineer; and Greg Olsen, spaceflight participant. Undocking occurred at 4:43 p.m. (CDT) on Oct. 10.

ISS031-E-070774 (25 May 2012) --- With darkness, Earth's horizon and thin line of atmosphere forming a backdrop, the SpaceX Dragon commercial cargo craft is grappled by the Canadarm2 robotic arm at the International Space Station. Expedition 31 Flight Engineers Don Pettit and Andre Kuipers grappled Dragon at 9:56 a.m. (EDT) and used the robotic arm to berth Dragon to the Earth-facing side of the stations Harmony node at 12:02 p.m. May 25, 2012. Dragon became the first commercially developed space vehicle to be launched to the station to join Russian, European and Japanese resupply craft that service the complex while restoring a U.S. capability to deliver cargo to the orbital laboratory. Dragon is scheduled to spend about a week docked with the station before returning to Earth on May 31 for retrieval.

ISS003-E-7107 (31 October 2001) --- A Soyuz spacecraft departs from the International Space Station (ISS) carrying the Soyuz taxi crew, Commander Victor Afanasyev, Flight Engineer Konstantin Kozeev and French Flight Engineer Claudie Haignere, ending their eight-day stay on the station. Afanasyev and Kozeev represent Rosaviakosmos, and Haignere represents ESA, carrying out a flight program for CNES, the French Space Agency, under a commercial contract with the Russian Aviation and Space Agency. This image was taken with a digital still camera.

JSC2011-E-037291 (May 2011) --- Computer-generated artists rendering of the International Space Station as of May 30, 2011. STS-134 space shuttle Endeavour departs, leaving new hardware: the Express Logistics Carrier 3 (ELC3) and Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS); and installed the Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) on the S1 truss. This angle shows the port side of the orbiting complex.

ISS021-E-005001 (11 Oct. 2009) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space, the Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft departs from the International Space Station carrying Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, Expedition 19/20 commander and Soyuz commander; NASA astronaut Michael Barratt, flight engineer; and spaceflight participant Guy Laliberte. Padalka guided the spacecraft to a parachute-assisted landing at 10:32 a.m. (Kazakhstan time) on Oct. 11, 2009, near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan.

ISS003-E-7100 (31 October 2001) --- A Soyuz spacecraft departs from the International Space Station (ISS) carrying the Soyuz taxi crew, Commander Victor Afanasyev, Flight Engineer Konstantin Kozeev and French Flight Engineer Claudie Haignere, ending their eight-day stay on the station. Afanasyev and Kozeev represent Rosaviakosmos, and Haignere represents ESA, carrying out a flight program for CNES, the French Space Agency, under a commercial contract with the Russian Aviation and Space Agency. This image was taken with a digital still camera.

S100-E-5161 (21 April 2001) --- One of the crew members aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour used a digital still camera to record this image of the International Space Station (ISS), backdropped against the blackness of space.

ISS011-E-05019 (24 April 2005) --- Backdropped by the blackness of space and airglow of Earths horizon, the Soyuz TMA-5 spacecraft departs from the International Space Station (ISS) carrying astronaut Leroy Chiao, Expedition 10 commander and NASA ISS science officer; cosmonaut Salizhan S. Sharipov, flight engineer representing Russia's Federal Space Agency; and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Roberto Vittori of Italy. Undocking occurred at 1:41 p.m. (CDT) on April 24.

JSC2006-E-06375 (March 2006) --- Computer-generated artists rendering of the International Space Station following scheduled activities of March 31, 2006. This angle shows the starboard side view of the orbiting complex. Soyuz 12, transporting the Expedition 13 crew, docks to the Zarya Module nadir port. Soyuz 11 remains docked to the Zvezda Service Module aft port and Progress 20 resupply vehicle remains docked to the Pirs Docking Compartment.

iss063e021460 (May 31, 2020) --- Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken of NASA's Commercial Crew Program were aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon as it approached the International Space Station. The Crew Dragon's nose cone is open revealing the spacecraft's docking mechanism that would connect to the Harmony module's forward International Docking Adapter.

ISS041-E-000012 (10 Sept. 2014) --- The Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft departs from the International Space Station and heads toward a landing in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. NASA astronaut Steve Swanson, Expedition 40 commander; Russian cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov, Soyuz commander and flight engineer; and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev, flight engineer, are returning from more than five months aboard the space station where they served as members of the Expedition 39 and 40 crews. Landing occurred at 10:23 p.m. (EDT), Sept. 10, 2014 (8:23 a.m., Sept. 11, Kazakh time).

ISS036-E-007844 (15 June 2013) --- Surrounded by the blackness of space, the European Space Agency's Automated Transfer Vehicle-4 (ATV-4) Albert Einstein” approaches the International Space Station. The spacecraft went on to successfully dock to the orbital outpost at 2:07 GMT, June 15, 2013, following a ten-day period of free-flight.

ISS038-E-028055 (12 Jan. 2014) --- Intersecting the thin line of Earth's atmosphere, the Orbital Sciences Corp. Cygnus commercial cargo craft attached to the end of the Canadarm2 robotic arm of the International Space Station is photographed by an Expedition 38 crew member during rendezvous and berthing operations on Jan. 12, 2014.

ISS024-E-005010 (2 June 2010) --- The Soyuz TMA-17 spacecraft departs the International Space Station on June 2, 2010. Onboard are three members of Expedition 23 -- Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kotov, commander; along with NASA astronaut T.J. Creamer and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Soichi Noguchi, both flight engineers.

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