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International Space Station Marks 25 Years of Continuous Human Presence

Agencies are preparing a controlled deorbit near 2030 with private stations expected to assume research duties.

Overview

  • The orbiting laboratory has been continuously inhabited since Expedition 1 arrived on Nov. 2, 2000.
  • Roscosmos reports about 290 visitors from 26 countries, while NASA cites more than 280 visitors including 170 from the United States.
  • ISS operations have included 125 crewed flights—71 Soyuz, 37 Space Shuttle, 16 Crew Dragon and one Starliner—and 277 spacewalks by 157 individuals.
  • Seven people are aboard now via Soyuz and Crew Dragon, including the four-member Crew-11 and a three-person Soyuz contingent for Expedition 73.
  • A cross-flight arrangement in place since 2022 mandates mixed crews on U.S. and Russian spacecraft for station rotations.