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International Space Station

The International Space Station, a modular orbital laboratory, is shown in space with solar panels extending outward, against a backdrop of clouds and sunlight.

A modular orbital laboratory operated jointly by NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, and CSA, continuously crewed since November 2000 in a low Earth orbit roughly 400 kilometres up. Its exterior has hosted a long series of exposure experiments — the EXPOSE platforms — testing whether microorganisms, lichens, and tardigrades can endure direct vacuum and solar radiation for months at a time.

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