The International Space Station (ISS) is a space station, or a habitable artificial satellite, in low Earth orbit.
The space station is designed to be a permanent orbiting research facility. Its major purpose is to perform world-class science and research that only a microgravity environment can provide. The station crew spends their day working on science experiments that require their input, as well as monitoring those that are controlled from the ground. They also take part in medical experiments to determine how well their bodies are adjusting to living in microgravity for long periods of time.
While floating some 240 miles (390 kilometers) above Earth's surface it travels around the Earth at an average speed of 27,700 km/h, completing 16 orbits per day.
