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Speakers' kit – The International Space Station

Resources that space experts can use to deliver presentations about the International Space Station to audiences across Canada.

Presentation

The International Space Station

Thank you for having me here today. I am grateful for the opportunity to talk to you about the International Space Station.

(Credit: NASA)

What is the International Space Station?

The International Space Station is a research laboratory in orbit above Earth. It has been continuously inhabited (crewed) since . The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is one of the Station's partners, along with NASA (the United States), Roscosmos (Russia), the European Space Agency (several countries in Europe), and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Japan).

The Station's first module was launched in . Since then, over two decades of cutting-edge science experiments have been performed there. These experiments are designed to study the effects of space travel on astronauts' bodies before they undertake longer journeys further into our solar system – and the knowledge obtained is used to improve the lives of Canadians and all of humanity, here on Earth.

(Credit: NASA)

Fast facts about the Station

  • It orbits Earth at an average altitude of 400 km.
  • Every day, the International Space Station circles Earth every 90 minutes, or 16 times per period of 24 hours. That's a distance roughly equal to a round trip to the Moon!
  • It moves 90 times faster than an F1 car.
  • The Station is made up of habitable sections (called modules) filled with breathable air.
  • Its living space is about the size of a five-bedroom home. The Station is about as wide as five hockey rinks.
  • It has a permanent crew of 3 to 6 people.

Canada's contribution

Canada's participation in the International Space Station is thanks to our contribution of space robotics:

  • Canadarm2, Canada's iconic robotic arm
  • Dextre, the most sophisticated space robot ever built
  • the Mobile Base System, a transport and storage platform

All three elements are essential for many maintenance tasks and regular operations.

Providing these robots as part of the international collaboration has given Canada access to the Station to:

  • send Canadian astronauts to the Station
  • test new technology
  • perform science experiments

(Credit: NASA)

Canadarm2 is a 17-metre-long robotic arm. It was installed on the Station in  and was instrumental in the assembly of the orbiting lab.

It is still used on a near-daily basis to:

  • perform Station maintenance
  • move supplies, equipment, Dextre and even astronauts during spacewalks
  • perform "cosmic catches" by grappling visiting vehicles and berthing them to the Station

Did you know?

Canadarm2 was not initially designed to catch cargo ships but rose to the challenge and began performing this tricky manoeuvre in . This complex operation requires extensive training and highlights the importance and the adaptability of Canadian robotics. Today, astronauts from around the world travel to CSA headquarters to learn how to operate Canadarm2.

(Credit: NASA)

Dextre is a robot that tackles the tough or routine jobs that need to be done in the harsh environment of space. It allows astronauts to spend more time doing scientific experiments instead of going on risky spacewalks.

Dextre:

  • installs and replaces small equipment
  • replaces defective components in the Station's electrical system
  • tests new tools and robotics techniques and can even repair itself!

Dextre can work on the whole surface of the Station either attached to Canadarm2 or carried on the Mobile Base System.

Did you know?

The ground team at the CSA plans, monitors and controls more than half of all Canadarm2 and Dextre operations aboard the Station from the Robotics Mission Control Centre located at CSA headquarters.

(Credit: NASA)

A science laboratory in space, for the benefit of humanity

The unique microgravity environment of the International Space Station allows scientists and researchers from around the world to conduct science experiments that are not possible on Earth.

To date, over two dozen Canadian studies have been conducted aboard, some of which are still underway. Canadian Station experiments are mostly focused on human and life science.

These experiments are designed to:

  • prepare for deep-space exploration
  • use the knowledge obtained to improve our quality of life on Earth

(Credit: NASA)

Why do we conduct science in space?

Living in a near-weightless environment causes many changes to the human body. Spending time in space accelerates the aging process – which makes it a great place to study conditions associated with aging.

As humanity undertakes missions to more distant destinations in the solar system, we want to better understand the risks associated with human space flight – and help find countermeasures and treatments – to identify, characterize, and mitigate the effects on astronauts' health to make space travel safer.

By studying how astronauts adapt to microgravity, scientists can advance our knowledge of a variety of health issues: cardiovascular problems, osteoporosis, Type 2 diabetes, and even the psychological effects of isolation and living in confinement. Studying the human body in space over a six-month mission gives us data that would take years to gather on Earth.

Testing technologies

Canadian innovation aboard the Station also extends to testing new technologies. One example is the Bio-Monitor smart shirt system.

Bio-Monitor is designed to measure and record astronauts' vital signs, all while fitting into their daily routine. It was developed by Montreal-based company Carré Technologies.

Since it was first tested on the International Space Station by CSA astronaut David Saint-Jacques, the Bio-Monitor is now used to collect scientific data for experiments.

This system also has the potential to help Canadians who are bedridden, housebound, or living in rural communities with limited access to medical support. The commercial version, Hexoskin, has been used to research everything from breathing disorders to epilepsy. There is even a smaller version used to study rare disorders in children.

(Credit: CSA/NASA)

Living and working on the Station

Living in microgravity has its share of daily challenges. After all, the human body was designed to work with the pull of Earth's gravity!

Fortunately, astronauts adapt quickly to life in orbit.

On a daily basis, astronauts maintain the Station, perform science experiments, and conduct a wide variety of activities. They also enjoy free time during which they pursue hobbies or simply relax. Many astronauts say that their favourite activity is looking out the window and admiring Earth.

(Credit: NASA)

Eating in space

On Earth, people like to get together to share a good meal. The same is true on board the Station! For astronauts, this is an opportunity not only to refuel, but also to relax and spend quality time with colleagues.

Most meals on the Station have been selected and packaged to ensure that they will last for the entire duration of a mission. Fresh food items like fruits and vegetables are sent to the International Space Station every few months on cargo resupply ships.

Astronauts have the chance to test certain foods several months prior to a space mission. To add variety to the standard International Space Station" menu, crewmembers can also request some of their favourite foods or foods typical of their culture, as long as they are suitable for the Station's environment. Astronauts' families also sometimes send them special foods… more as a little taste of home than strictly for their nutritional value!

(Credit: NASA)

Personal hygiene in space

The methods that astronauts use to maintain good hygiene in microgravity are a lot like those used on camping trips. The water supply on the Station is very limited. The International Space Station is a closed system that can reclaim about 93% of the water on board. Sweat, urine and moisture get purified back into drinking water.

Water does not "flow" in microgravity: it is therefore impossible to take a shower, wash your hands or go to the bathroom the same way you would on Earth. Performing these tasks requires resourcefulness and skill.

Check out the CSA website for videos of astronauts explaining various personal hygiene tasks such as “taking a shower,” brushing their teeth, shaving, clipping their nails, or getting a haircut.

(Credit: NASA)

Exercising in space

When you're in orbit, exercise is vital! Physical activity is the most effective way to counteract the adverse effects of weightlessness on the human body. Exercise is therefore a crucial part of the daily routine of astronauts, both on Earth and in space.

Without exercising in space, an astronaut's body would experience major loss in:

  • muscle mass
  • bone density
  • cardiovascular health

The longer astronauts spend in space, the more significant the effects are on their body.

(Credit: NASA)

Canada's fourth long duration mission on the International Space Station

CSA astronaut Colonel Joshua Kutryk flew to the Station on as part of NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 mission. This is Canada's fourth long-duration mission on the orbiting laboratory.

Hailing from Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Joshua Kutryk was fascinated with the sky and outer space from a young age. As a teenager he learned to fly in the Air Cadet program.

He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and was a fighter pilot and experimental pilot totalling over 4000 hours on over 40 types of aircraft.

Joshua was selected by the CSA in , and completed basic training at NASA in early , earning the title of astronaut.

What's next for the Station

Canada has committed to the Station program until . The CSA is working with NASA and international partners on plans to safely deorbit the International Space Station, marking the end of an unparalleled chapter in human space exploration – but not the end of the story.

Low Earth orbit is likely to remain a destination for science, discovery, and commercial development.

And missions to deep-space destinations, like the Moon and Mars, will undoubtedly benefit from decades of research and know-how acquired aboard the International Space Station.

(Credit: NASA)

To stay up to date on Canada's role in the Station and missions set to bring humanity back to the Moon, visit the CSA's website and follow us on social media.

Text version: Text version: Follow the CSA on social media. Suivez l'ASC sur les médias sociaux. asc-csa.gc.ca
(Credit: CSA/NASA)

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