CNES projects library
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International Space Station
In 1998, the Russian Zarya module was placed into Earth orbit and became the first element of the International Space Station (ISS). Assembly of the station was completed 13 years later, in 2011. Today, the ISS has a habitable volume of approximately 400 m3 and has been permanently crewed since November 2000. The station’s main purpose is to perform microgravity science experiments. Two examples are Cardiomed, a medical experiment developed by CNES in cooperation with the IMBP (Russia) to gauge the effects of near-weightlessness on the cardiovascular system. it was operated from 2010 to 2020 and its continuation is in preparation, and the DECLIC mini-laboratory also developed by CNES in cooperation with NASA and launched to the ISS in 2009 to observe the behaviour of fluids in certain very precise conditions. As the ISS orbits Earth at an altitude of about 400 km, such experiments allow scientists to detect physical and physiological phenomena otherwise masked by gravity on the ground. In addition to its role performing experiments, the ISS also serves as a platform to observe Earth from space and as a proving ground for future human space exploration.
Launched and led by NASA, the ISS mission was developed and is being pursued in partnership with ESA, the Russian federal space agency Roscosmos, the Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The ISS will continue operating until at least 2030.
Mission's news feed
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Phobos-Grunt: destination Mars in November
The Russian space probe is scheduled to depart for Phobos, Mars’ small moon, on 8 November with several French instruments. Its goal: to determine Phobos’ origins.
November 27, 2011
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ESA ground station makes contact with Phobos-Grunt
The European Space Agency (ESA) succeeded in making contact with the Russian spacecraft stuck in Earth orbit on Tuesday 22 November, reviving hopes that the mission might be saved.
November 24, 2011
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Phobos-Grunt probe could disintegrate in early January
The Russian spacecraft has so far failed to set a course for Mars and could re-enter Earth’s atmosphere early in January if engineers are unable to regain control of it.
November 16, 2011