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.