Assembly of the International Space Station (1998-2001)

Filed under pretty pictures, amateur image processing, scale comparisons, human spaceflight, International Space Station, Russian human spaceflight

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These six images document the early assembly of the International Space Station, from 1998 to 2001. Click through for more information on the different stages of assembly.

NASA / montage by Emily Lakdawalla

• June 12, 1998: the Zarya ("Sunrise") control module and solar panels.
• December 15, 1998: Now Unity (Node 1) has been added.
• September 18, 2000: the Zvezda (Star) service module has been added; a Progress supply ship is also docked.
• December 9, 2000: the P6 truss and solar arrays vastly increase the station's apparent size.
• February 16, 2001: the Destiny laboratory has been added.
• July 21, 2001: The Quest airlock is attached to Unity, and Canadarm 2 to Destiny.

When enlarged to full size, the scale is approximately 10 centimeters per pixel.