Celebrating 20 Years of the International Space Station

For almost 20 years, since the Expedition 1 crew arrived on November 2, 2000, humans have been continuously living in Earth orbit aboard the International Space Station  . As a global endeavor, 240 people from 19 countries have visited the microgravity laboratory, which has hosted over 2,800 research investigations from scientists in more than 100 nations. Along with the hundreds of astronauts who have worked on experiments aboard station, thousands more people, including researchers, students, and NASA employees, have worked to develop and conduct the science from Earth.

Transcript

00:00:01 [ Music ]
>> This was once just a dream.
>> TTC is good for launch.
>> Three, two.
>> And liftoff of Discovery and a team of explorers shaping their destiny!
>> An answer built by those who dared to ask. What if we were to channel humanity's knowledge and creatively into something truly revolutionary? What if we built a bridge between and above all nations --

00:00:36 to jointly discover the galaxy's great unknowns? To endeavor to live and to work outside our planet for the benefit of all within. What started as an accord between two former rivals became a beacon of opportunity for the rest of the world.
>> We have ignition and liftoff of the Soyuz rocket beginning the first expedition to the International Space Station and setting the stage for permanent human presence in space.

00:01:01
>> Are you ready for visitors?
>> We live this dream aboard the International Space Station.
>> It's good to have you there and adjusting to your new home.
>> Adapting to life in space has been a process.
>> For the past 20 years, over 230 astronauts from all over the world have worked tirelessly together, boldly performing pioneering research and high-stakes space walks in the unforgiving environment of space. In this unparalleled orbital laboratory, circling the planet

00:02:03 at 17,500 miles an hour, thousands of groundbreaking scientific experiments from over 100 countries have led to discoveries unachievable in the confines of Earth. From 250 miles up, an unbroken chain of residents have shared their view and their research with a generation eager to understand this higher plan. The space station is a symbol of humanity at its best, a shining example of international peace and collaboration in action.

00:02:34
>> Three, two, one.
>> Endeavor, this is Houston. You've completed a historic ride to the ISS and have opened up a new chapter in human space exploration.
>> And as we turn our gaze outward still, this International Space Station is a living testament of our collective strength and perseverance, where our human curiosity prepares for the audacious efforts ahead. We continue to bridge the distances between us

00:02:44 and prove just how much more is possible when we dream together. [ Music ]