This Smithsonian Science Starter collection investigates the history of the International Space Station (ISS), and the lives of the people who have worked on it. How did the ISS come to be? Who are the astronauts who have been chosen to live and work there in microgravity for months at a time?

In the accompanying video, astronaut Paolo Nespoli talks about some of the difficulties of living aboard the ISS. He also discusses some similarities and differences between the United States’ space shuttles and the Russian Soyuz space vehicles, and what keeps astronauts busy during their time on the station. 

Keywords: #airandspace, NASM, National Air and Space Museum