High above our heads, a shining structure the size of a football field orbits Earth at 28,000 kilometres per hour — a laboratory, a home, and a symbol of what humanity can achieve when we work together. The International Space Station (ISS) is not just a marvel of engineering; it’s a living, breathing outpost where astronauts from around the world live, work, and look down on our fragile blue planet 400 kilometres below.

In The International Space Station: 10 Amazing Facts, author Daran Volcroft takes you on a journey beyond our atmosphere to discover the secrets, science, and stories behind this incredible achievement. From its humble beginnings as a single Russian module launched in 1998 to its current status as the largest human-made object in space, the ISS is a triumph of vision, technology, and cooperation.

You’ll learn how the station was painstakingly built piece by piece in orbit, with astronauts conducting spacewalks to connect massive modules and unfurl solar arrays. You’ll explore what it’s like to live in microgravity — from daily exercise routines to prevent muscle loss, to mealtimes where food floats, to the awe-inspiring view of 16 sunrises and sunsets every day. And you’ll discover the cutting-edge experiments that can only be done in space, from testing future Mars mission technology to studying how the human body adapts to weightlessness.

Inside you’ll find
– The story of the ISS’s construction and the challenges of assembling it in space
– How it generates power using vast solar arrays stretching like golden wings
– The science breakthroughs made possible by a gravity-free environment
– The international partnerships that make it a true global project
– How astronauts and cosmonauts from rival nations work side by side
– How to spot the ISS from your own backyard

More than just facts, this book captures the wonder and significance of the ISS. It’s a place where politics are left at the airlock, where humans from different cultures share meals, holidays, and discoveries — and where every orbit reminds us of the beauty and fragility of our planet.

Whether you’re a space enthusiast, a student, or simply curious about life beyond Earth, The International Space Station: 10 Amazing Facts will give you a deeper appreciation of this extraordinary human achievement. Next time you see that bright, steady light gliding across the night sky, you’ll know exactly what’s happening aboard — and just how much it took to make it possible.

Look up. The future is already in orbit.