space station, Crewed artificial structure designed to revolve in a fixed orbit as a long-term base for astronomical observations, study of Earth’s resources and environment, military reconnaissance, and investigations of materials and biological systems in weightless conditions. Twelve space stations have been placed in low Earth orbit and occupied for varying lengths of time. The Soviet Union orbited the world’s first space station, Salyut 1, designed for scientific studies, in 1971. From 1974 to 1982 five more Salyut stations—two outfitted for military reconnaissance—were successfully placed in orbit and occupied. In 1986 the U.S.S.R. launched the core module of Mir, a scientific station that was expanded with five additional modules over the next decade. The U.S. orbited its first space station in 1973; called Skylab, it was equipped as a solar observatory and medical laboratory. In 1998 the U.S. and Russia began in-orbit construction of the International Space Station (ISS), a complex of laboratory and habitat modules that would ultimately involve contributions from at least 16 countries. In 2000 the ISS received its first resident crew. The Chinese launched the first of their three space stations, Tiangong 1, in 2011.
