![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4NZF4ZSSBWHAHMVYCSK2G7OG7A.jpg?smart=true&auth=8498ec8a79f0f69302b6404d9c8c26ef6a9b41399ef05bd33268f79c6dc4cec6&width=400&height=225)
A portion of the International Space Station and the docked space shuttle Endeavour. Wikicommons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PJLKWTKKOVGXHIVZQ4SKGHDBOM.jpg?smart=true&auth=f0b0cf3cc5ae677ee03e833910d6b7980f06da95d0c2786dd2f9b7c825f3d496&width=400&height=225)
A view of the International Space Station backdropped by Earth. The station has four large, maroon-coloured solar array wings, two on either side of the station, mounted to a central truss structure. Further along the truss are six large, white radiators, three next to each pair of arrays. In between the solar arrays and radiators is a cluster of pressurised modules arranged in an elongated T shape, also attached to the truss. A set of blue solar arrays are mounted to the module at the aft end of the cluster. Wikicommons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TVYQC42YKFC62H67UKJ7F4D5MU.jpg?smart=true&auth=1e8dc95db162376a86f3f28513a3b568b6fb434288d0c06dd8259c689d5ac1d2&width=400&height=225)
Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk, Expedition 20 flight engineer, inserts urine samples into the ISS Laboratory Freezer as part of the Nutritional Status Assessment study. Wikicommons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/43TZPT47NVTFUE6YCALGS26DBY.jpg?smart=true&auth=386f842a31d1ce26c0e1b21cb9e1d884b27ee0b9f2f0189cadaf1347603a1786&width=400&height=225)
Nasa astronaut Anne McClain works inside the Japanese Kibo laboratory aboard the International Space Station in January 2019 in Earth Orbit. Alamy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JINDPXKDHPLTKJ36WKX4BTIX2Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=a3b55b08ade0add75c9fef05707420ec674ca32c768d1a43e0354e14c275260d&width=400&height=225)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide exercises on the Cycle Ergometer in the Destiny laboratory on the International Space Station in June, 2008. Nasa / Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KVDQ7TI42OX6HQIV4IYQPPDGEM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ee9e27067d9f5c2d18d3fb9812b1b8c4ca7833c4ff3c9683b9cd96eba1bb1a76&width=400&height=225)
Astronaut Gregory C. Johnson, STS-125 pilot, rests in his sleeping bag on the flight deck of the Earth-orbiting space shuttle Atlantis in May 2009. Nasa / Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DANRK2OOX5CCIPRMVWRCFUCTXI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9165007cfdca109296d0c3f906c47d4fc3662ef929b3808bbe382da35a98009c&width=400&height=225)
European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet shaves on board the station. ESA / AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MKYB4UPSBERCAGLVQXXHXSPQ5Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=c007d4a01849f40982e574e02a86755c8298f50d08174d1413c39df63467f5cc&width=400&height=225)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata performs the daily ambient flush of the potable water dispenser in the waste and hygiene compartment in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station in April 2009. Nasa TV / Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YLQA3VENDSY46UCZP7KKMFO2MI.jpg?smart=true&auth=443f98d906cbb4e30069b299e49d797b15c33c470e74f68419518aa2bb75d875&width=400&height=225)
A set of NanoRacks CubeSats is photographed by an Expedition 38 crew member after the deployment by the NanoRacks Launcher attached to the end of the Japanese robotic arm. Wikicommons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4NZF4ZSSBWHAHMVYCSK2G7OG7A.jpg?smart=true&auth=8498ec8a79f0f69302b6404d9c8c26ef6a9b41399ef05bd33268f79c6dc4cec6&width=400&height=225)
A portion of the International Space Station and the docked space shuttle Endeavour. Wikicommons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PJLKWTKKOVGXHIVZQ4SKGHDBOM.jpg?smart=true&auth=f0b0cf3cc5ae677ee03e833910d6b7980f06da95d0c2786dd2f9b7c825f3d496&width=400&height=225)
A view of the International Space Station backdropped by Earth. The station has four large, maroon-coloured solar array wings, two on either side of the station, mounted to a central truss structure. Further along the truss are six large, white radiators, three next to each pair of arrays. In between the solar arrays and radiators is a cluster of pressurised modules arranged in an elongated T shape, also attached to the truss. A set of blue solar arrays are mounted to the module at the aft end of the cluster. Wikicommons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TVYQC42YKFC62H67UKJ7F4D5MU.jpg?smart=true&auth=1e8dc95db162376a86f3f28513a3b568b6fb434288d0c06dd8259c689d5ac1d2&width=400&height=225)
Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk, Expedition 20 flight engineer, inserts urine samples into the ISS Laboratory Freezer as part of the Nutritional Status Assessment study. Wikicommons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/43TZPT47NVTFUE6YCALGS26DBY.jpg?smart=true&auth=386f842a31d1ce26c0e1b21cb9e1d884b27ee0b9f2f0189cadaf1347603a1786&width=400&height=225)
Nasa astronaut Anne McClain works inside the Japanese Kibo laboratory aboard the International Space Station in January 2019 in Earth Orbit. Alamy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JINDPXKDHPLTKJ36WKX4BTIX2Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=a3b55b08ade0add75c9fef05707420ec674ca32c768d1a43e0354e14c275260d&width=400&height=225)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide exercises on the Cycle Ergometer in the Destiny laboratory on the International Space Station in June, 2008. Nasa / Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KVDQ7TI42OX6HQIV4IYQPPDGEM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ee9e27067d9f5c2d18d3fb9812b1b8c4ca7833c4ff3c9683b9cd96eba1bb1a76&width=400&height=225)
Astronaut Gregory C. Johnson, STS-125 pilot, rests in his sleeping bag on the flight deck of the Earth-orbiting space shuttle Atlantis in May 2009. Nasa / Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DANRK2OOX5CCIPRMVWRCFUCTXI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9165007cfdca109296d0c3f906c47d4fc3662ef929b3808bbe382da35a98009c&width=400&height=225)
European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet shaves on board the station. ESA / AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MKYB4UPSBERCAGLVQXXHXSPQ5Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=c007d4a01849f40982e574e02a86755c8298f50d08174d1413c39df63467f5cc&width=400&height=225)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata performs the daily ambient flush of the potable water dispenser in the waste and hygiene compartment in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station in April 2009. Nasa TV / Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YLQA3VENDSY46UCZP7KKMFO2MI.jpg?smart=true&auth=443f98d906cbb4e30069b299e49d797b15c33c470e74f68419518aa2bb75d875&width=400&height=225)
A set of NanoRacks CubeSats is photographed by an Expedition 38 crew member after the deployment by the NanoRacks Launcher attached to the end of the Japanese robotic arm. Wikicommons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4NZF4ZSSBWHAHMVYCSK2G7OG7A.jpg?smart=true&auth=8498ec8a79f0f69302b6404d9c8c26ef6a9b41399ef05bd33268f79c6dc4cec6&width=400&height=225)
A portion of the International Space Station and the docked space shuttle Endeavour. Wikicommons
How the Russia-Ukraine tension might affect the International Space Station
The floating laboratory has been shielded from political tension for 20 years
![Sarwat Nasir](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5a1721d1-b1fc-47a7-8c35-985395d5a5ae.png?smart=true&auth=59b598b8295381dbbb5492b5ef6a2ffa0d77e07c0a1086053fcdbee600f14b7f&width=70&height=70)
Sarwat Nasir
23 February, 2022
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic