The International Space Station is the largest and most complex international scientific project in history. Led by the USA , the product calls upon the technologies of Canada, Japan, Russia, 11 nations of the European space agency, and Brazil. Completed, the ISS will weigh 1,040,000 pounds and will measure 356 feet across, 290 feet long. This is more than four times larger than the Russian Mir space station. The US has responsbility for developing and operating major elements of the Space station and is estimated to plough a third of its yearly funds into the project, an amount only equalled by Russia.

THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

A possible theory on the reasoning for this collosal space base is the development of the human race into space, not only through the ISS but on Mars and other attempts to venture further into space. Despite this reasoning, there has to be some question of an alterior motive to the ISS, which has been built to offer a new community set up in space. Another answer to the question of why, is considered by some as ridiculous. Millions of people have seen the films Independence day, Deep impact, and Asteroid. Maybe a similar case senario to these and more should be considered. At the moment there are several scenarios we can rule out. The first being the idea of extra terestrials attacking for any reason. In this case, a space station would be the worst possible answer because the first thing that would be taken out is the sattelites. If the ET's can get here, they're not going to be stupid enough to leave our communications open. An asteroid hurtling towards Earth does seem a plausible reason for the ISS to preserve human life, however with the money and resources already spent on the space station, the entire population could be housed under ground until the dust clouds had cleared and we could live above ground again. Whether or not there are alterior motives for the ISS the little people do ot know, we just have to hope they know what they're doing.