BackForward Satellite Programme: International Space Station 

Programme details
Programme description
  • Very large facility permanently in space.
  • Multilateral responsibility shared by NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA and CSA.  Many elements contributed by many other space agencies.
  • Structured in several modules, some manned, serviced in orbit.
  • The structure is actively stabilised over 3 axis, but each payload has its own stabilisation system.
  • The structure is intended to be used for at least 20 years.  The first element was placed in orbit in 1998.  Other modules are progressively added.
  • The orbit altitude is around 400 km, lowered or increased at instances.  The inclination is 51.6°.
  • See detailed description, for instance, at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html.
Data circulation
  • Specifically arranged for each payload.
Agencies NASA , CSA, DLR, ESA, JAXA, Roscosmos
Programme lifetime 2009 - 2030
Associated satellites and instruments

Note: red tag => no longer operational , green tag => operational , blue tag => planned