The 400-Kilometer Commute: Life Inside the International Space Station

ISS: How It Works — Pillar 2 • Space Capital In this article The Beautiful Lie Why the ISS Falls Zvezda Leak SARJ Failure Drowning Spacewalk Hidden Pattern Commercial Future Lessons & Legacy FAQs Research & Standards About Penny Continue Your Journey 🏠 Home ← Back to Pillar 2 Overview section class="grid"> Meta Description: The ISS nearly killed an astronaut. Its gears ground apart. Air leaked for years. Yet zero deaths in 27 years. Here's how humans keep saving the machine. The International Space Station isn't floating peacefully in space. It's falling. Every single second of every day. And that's not even the scary part. Last Updated: October 2025 Mini Table of Contents ...

Earth from Above (Overview)

ISS: How It Works — Pillar 3

Earth from Above

How space research builds circular systems and sustainable tech back on Earth.

From Space Algae to Breweries (MELiSSA)

ESA’s closed-loop life-support project powering circular economy ideas on Earth.

Tour the ISS Air & Water Recycling Loops

A guided look at how air, humidity, and water get endlessly cleaned and reused.

ISS Water Recycling: Can Astronauts Drink Yesterday’s Sweat?

Short answer: yes — here’s the science and safeguards behind it.

The Orbiting Laboratory

Groundbreaking ISS science — from materials to biology — with Earth applications.

The Strangest Laboratory in the Solar System

Microgravity as a “soundproof booth” for physics, medicine, and quantum tech.

Docking vs Berthing: Why the ISS Has Both

Two ways to meet a moving target — precision, safety, and use-cases.

ISS: Your One-Page Classroom Guide

Teacher-friendly cheatsheet that turns ISS systems into a mini lesson plan.

Plan a Viewing: When Will the ISS Fly Over You?

How to spot the station like a pro — tools, timing, and sky conditions.