International Space Station

The International Space Station, also referred to as the Space Station Project, is a space station in low-Earth orbit constructed as an orbital laboratory for various scientific experiments coordinated between space-faring nations. To date, 16 nations are included in the Space Station Project.

Background
While an international space program was conceived in Ed Island in the mid-1990s, the current ISS was proposed in 2000 by the recently-formed United States of Antarctica, the ISS program was to be a way for countries to connect and aide each other through space exploration. Rusca and Ed Island were the first nations to be contacted due to their previous experience with space programs, but over the years the program was later expanded to include numerous other countries.

In 2006, several years after the station was launched, the ISS Agreements were signed between 13 member nations. These agreements included the peaceful operation of the space station and its dedication to furthering the scientific knowledge of penguinkind.

Construction
Primary construction of the ISS was done through Antarctican space shuttles, Ruscan Proton rockets, and Ed Islandian spaceplanes. The first module was launched on November 20, 2001, which was a Ruscan module launched by rocket. Construction was greatly aided by the addition of the Caladarm2, a robotic appendage able to grapple onto modules to move them with ease.

Currently, supplies to the station are sent via SSTO launch from Ed Island's mass driver launch complex at the Eckmann Space Center in Markland. Resembling a 12-kilometer long ramp, the mass driver was constructed in 1996 using surplus military funds from the end of the False War to symbolize a "bridge of peace" stretching into outer space.

The ISS is planned to be decommissioned in 2024, with no clear successor station. Ed Island currently has plans to construct a Manned Orbital Laboratory in 2021 using excess funds from other decommissioned space programs, as well as an Axle Powers military station which was launched in 2017.

Modules
To date, the ISS possesses 18 pressurized modules of varying national origin. The ISS is divided into three major sections: the Antarctican Orbital Segment (8 modules), Ruscan Orbital Segment(4 modules), and Ed Islandian Orbital Segment (6 modules). In addition, the ISS also contains three depressurized units, three airlocks, and an Ed Islandian emergency shuttle.

Antarctican Orbital Segment
The Antarctican Orbital Segment is currently the largest segment of the ISS with 8 modules, 4 of which originate from other nations. The Antarctican segment contains the sleeping quarters for astronauts, and possesses the Cupola module to control the station's Caladarm2. Other modules in this segment include the Centrifuge Accommodations Module, a rotating capsule to simulate Earth-like gravity, and the ISS Habitation Module where most crew members rest.

Ruscan Orbital Segment
With the Zarya module launched in 2001, the Ruscan Orbital Segment was the first to be constructed on the ISS. The Ruscan segment contains the primary power storage capsule for the station, as well as numerous laboratories for zero-gravity experiments. Unlike the other segments, the Ruscan segment is built with utilitarian use over crew comfort, owning to typical Ruscan design.

The Ruscan Orbital Segment is planned to be disconnected from the greater ISS in 2023 to act as the central component of a new space station.

Ed Islandian Orbital Segment
The 'central' segment between the Antarctican and Ruscan segments, the Ed Islandian Orbial Segment possesses the main command module of the ISS. This segment was the third segment to be launched, with the first module placed into orbit on January 5, 2002. Most Ed Islandian capsules are oriented towards technology development, and contains the station's fabrication laboratories and hydroponics module.

SSTO Shuttles launched from Ed Island exclusively dock to this orbital segment due to the central docking port featuring The necessary power transformers to concert shuttle energy to the station.

Space Station Project Member Nations
As of 2017, 16 nations have joined the Space Station Project:
 * USA flag.PNG United States of Antarctica
 * Ruscoe Federation Flag.png Rusca
 * Ed Island Flag.png Ed Island
 * Frankterre Flag.png Frankterre
 * UK Flag 2.png Puffle'and
 * FlagOfJapaland.png Japaland
 * Pengvaria Flag.png Batavia
 * Flag of Castilla.png Castilla
 * Newestpenguio.png United Penguin Islands
 * Alemania Flag.png Alemania
 * UnitedTerra flag.PNG UnitedTerra
 * NewUnitedProvincesFlag.png United Provinces (Joined as Snowiny)
 * Tropicalis Flag.png Tropicalis
 * ShopsIslandFlag2013.png Shops Island
 * Culldromeislesflag.png Culldrome Isles
 * Munijoch.jpg Munijoch

Other nations have contributed to the ISS such as Calada, Margate, and the Seal Islands, but have not signed the International Space Station Agreements.

Trivia

 * The ISS is based on the real International Space Station, but is not a direct parody.