Haynes International Space Station Manual (1998 – 2011 all stages): An Insight into the History, Development, Collaboration, Production and Role of the Permanently Manned Earth-orbiting Complex.

The International Space Station (ISS) is a permanently manned earth-orbiting complex where astronauts carry out research into a wide range of scientific activities. It comprises modules built in the USA, Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada. Author David Baker examines how the ISS was built, the logistics modules and freighters operated by its user nations, how the ISS works as an integrated facility, life on board, what the ISS does, the research carried out and who benefits.

• A permanent place in space – an insight into the Russian Mir space station, which preceded the International Space Station, and paved the way for international cooperation on a space station project.
• ISS Phase I – a chronological look at the NASA and Russian mission to the Mir space station that prepared the way for the assembly of the ISS, involving astronauts from several different countries.
• ISS Phase II – the assembly of the ISS to build a space station fit for human habitation, again followed via a chronological examination of the missions to the station and the purpose and achievements of each mission.
• ISS Phase III – permanent habitation of the ISS, as Americans, Europeans, Canadians and Japanese began to live together in space, having learned how to work together on Earth.
• ISS Phase IV – the final assembly of the ISS, and the delays involved due to the grounding of the Space Shuttle – the only vehicle capable of transporting big loads into space – after the loss of Columbia in 2003.
• The legacy of the ISS – with assembly complete, the ISS became a giant laboratory in space, available to the international scientific community for a wide range of research, crew and cargo transported to and from the ISS by commercial companies after the retirement of the Shuttle.

Author Biography

Dr David Baker worked with NASA on the Gemini, Apollo and Shuttle programmes between 1965 and 1990. He has written more than 80 books on spaceflight technology and is the author of the Haynes NASA Space Shuttle Manual.