environment. The station maintains a low orbit around the Earth. This is 217 to 285 miles

above the Earth. The station itself is under construction while in orbit. Construction started

in 1998 and will take years to complete. It is estimated to be completed by the year 2006.

Sixteen separate nations are working together to complete this massive laboratory. The

United States is working with Russia, Japan, Canada, Brazil, the United Kingdom, France,

Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, and

Sweden. Each country is contributing to the construction of the station. The station is made

up of more than 100 components and will take 44 more trips with the three main space

vessels to complete it. It will take nearly 2000 man-hours and nearly 60 space walks to

construct and maintain the station. After completion, the estimated lifespan of the station is

close to ten years. The estimated cost of the station will be between 35 and 37 billion