The International Space Station is so hot right now, with no less than two movies out featuring the orbital lab, namely I.S.S. and Constellation. Indeed, the ISS is an absolute icon and a fixture of popular culture. But beyond its well-known status as a pioneering space laboratory, it harbors a wealth of lesser-known facts and features.
The ISS spins around Earth once every 90 minutes, and it’s done so continuously for the past quarter century. It’s the space lab that just keeps on ticking, despite the odd toilet malfunction, air leak, or impromptu backflip. From its unique fire safety measures tailored for microgravity environments to the intricacies of its water recycling system, the ISS is a marvel of engineering and human ingenuity. There’s much to know about this extraordinary laboratory in the sky, some details being more esoteric than others.
