Discover the Cosmos: 14 Amazing Fun Facts About the International Space Station (ISS)

1. Sunrise Champion

Talk about a front-row seat to Earth's greatest light show: NASA astronaut Scott Kelly was treated to 10,944 sunrises and sunsets during his 342-day mission on the International Space Station, all thanks to its 90-minute orbit around the planet. Still, even this jaw-dropping number doesn't land him the cosmic crown, as Cosmonaut Gennady Padalka holds the record for most time spent in space with 879 days over five trips.
Source => theatlantic.com

2. Exclusive Space Club

If you thought the ISS was hosting intergalactic soirées on a regular basis, think again, earthlings! Our celestial vacation home remains quite an exclusive retreat: As of September 12, 2021, a mere nine space tourists have graced the ISS with their presence, hitching rides on Russian Soyuz spacecraft. In fact, the entire guest list includes only 244 individuals from 19 countries, with just three American citizens visiting as part of Russia-U.S. government agreements.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know that bread crumbs are a major threat in space? Discover how tortillas save the day on the ISS and learn about astronauts' unique taste bud adventures!

=> Fun Facts about Space

3. Pee-to-Drink Technology

Whoever said "don't drink where you pee" never went to space: The International Space Station, a true marvel in recycling, has an extraordinary water recovery system that turns wastewater and even astronaut urine into drinkable water, and it recently received an upgrade thanks to SpaceX's Dragon 1 cargo resupply ship.
Source => cnet.com

4. Cosmic Gym Rats

Who needs a gym membership when you're floating around in space? Astronauts aboard the ISS get their sweat on by pumping (cosmic) iron, running on the "moonwalk" treadmill, and pedaling an interstellar stationary bike: All to maintain their strength, bone density, and cardiovascular health for two hours daily, using three modified exercise machines that simulate Earth's gravity – the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device, a treadmill with adjustable intensity, and a bike with harnesses and clip pedals to keep those space legs in tip-top shape.
Source => asc-csa.gc.ca

5. ISS Frequent Flyer

If the International Space Station had a frequent flyer card, it would be racking up some serious miles: This cosmic wanderer orbits Earth at a mind-boggling 17,500 miles per hour (28,000 kilometers per hour), completing 15.54 laps each day and accumulating over 100,000 orbits during its lifetime – sorry to debunk your sources, but 3 billion miles is a tad too much!
Source => space.com

6. Space Farming Innovations

When life gives you dwarf plums, make a cosmic plum pudding: NASA and ARS have teamed up to explore sustainable ways of cultivating plants on the ISS, including experimenting with genetically modified dwarf plums as a space crop, nurturing microgreens for sustenance, employing helpful fungi for plant growth enhancement, and employing hyperspectral sensing to keep tabs on crop stress - all in a bid to provide astronauts with garden-fresh produce during extended space missions and extraterrestrial stays.
Source => ars.usda.gov

7. Sunrise Overload

Whoever designed the ISS must have really loved watching sunrises and sunsets – 16 a day is slightly excessive, don't you think?: The International Space Station zips around Earth at breakneck speeds of 17,500 miles per hour, completing an orbit every 90 minutes and allowing its crew to witness 16 spectacular sunrises and sunsets daily.
Source => kennedyspacecenter.com

8. Star-Studded Guest List

If the ISS were an Airbnb, it'd have a top-notch occupancy rate and a rave guest list: Since its grand opening in 1998, over 266 spacefaring tourists from 20 different countries have made themselves at home there, with some coming back for seconds and thirds!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Cosmic Binge-Watchers

Who needs Earth-based Netflix and chill when you can have an out-of-this-world binge-watching experience among the stars? Breaking terrestrial barriers, behold: Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) can use internet-enabled laptops to stay connected with their families, watch movies, and make video calls through a VoIP system, albeit with certain restrictions on call timings and no access to social media platforms or web browsing.
Source => starlust.org

10. Recycling Sweat and Tears

When the going gets tough, astronauts on the ISS get going on recycling every last drop of sweat and tears to stay hydrated: Thanks to a cutting-edge liquid recycling system, the International Space Station is able to reclaim about 93% of its water usage, including greywater, urine, and even sweat from the cabin air, producing water of a higher quality than what's typically consumed on Earth. However, it's a firm no to space poop recycling – for now, it's collected and burned up in the atmosphere, sending a star-studded farewell to solids!
Source => herox.com

11. Groundhog Day in Space

You might think astronauts aboard the International Space Station are having the ultimate "Groundhog Day" experience, reliving the same sunrise and sunset on repeat: In reality, they witness a staggering 16 sunrises and sunsets each day! This is due to the ISS speeding around Earth at a breakneck pace of 17,500 miles per hour, completing an orbit every 90 minutes.
Source => kennedyspacecenter.com

12. 3D Printing in Orbit

Don't need it? Print it!; The International Space Station (ISS) features an Additive Manufacturing Facility (AMF), developed by Made In Space, which allows 3D microgravity printing for parts and research without launching payloads - a technology essential for lengthy missions like the ones to Mars.
Source => eoportal.org

13. ISS Microbial Roommates

Step right up and meet the not-so-lonely space station's invisible inhabitants: On the International Space Station (ISS), a microbial survey discovered a staggering 12,554 distinct microbial species, including a small number of Archaea, living on its surfaces, though it's unclear if all remain present or viable.
Source => ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

14. Cosmic Construction Feat

Knock, knock, who's there? It's a space-sized Airbnb, a cosmic clubhouse, and an out-of-this-world science lab rolled into one: The International Space Station is the result of a partnership between five space agencies representing 15 countries, taking over 30 missions to construct in a 10-year period, finally making it the largest human-made structure floating 250 miles above our little planet.
Source => issnationallab.org