The International Space Station from Above
			
		
		
			Credit:  
STS-114 Crew, 
NASA
		
		
			The  International Space Station (ISS) is the largest 
human-made object ever to orbit the Earth.  
 
Last August, the station was 
visited and
 resupplied by space shuttle 
Discovery.  
 
The ISS is currently operated by the Expedition 13 crew, consisting a Russian and an American astronaut.  
 
After departing the 
ISS, the crew of Discovery captured 
this spectacular vista of the orbiting 
space city high above the 
Caspian Sea.  
 
Visible components include modules, 
trusses, and expansive 
solar arrays 
that gather sunlight that is turned into needed 
electricity.