NP-2010-09-682-HQ, NASA PUBLICATION: REFERENCE GUIDE TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (ISS) - ASSEMBLY COMPLETE EDITION (NOV-2010) [ISBN 0-16-086517-4]

NP-2010-09-682-HQ, NASA PUBLICATION: REFERENCE GUIDE TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (ISS) - ASSEMBLY COMPLETE EDITION (NOV-2010) [ISBN 0-16-086517-4]., The International Space Station (ISS) is the unique blend of unified and diversified goals among the world’s space agencies that will lead to improvements in life on Earth for all people of all nations. While the various space agency partners may emphasize different aspects of research to achieve their goals in the use of the ISS, they are unified in several important overarching goals. All of the agencies recognize the importance of leveraging the ISS as an education platform to encourage and motivate today’s youth to pursue careers in math, science, engineering, and technology (STEM): educating the children of today to be the leaders and space explorers of tomorrow. Advancing our knowledge in the areas of human physiology, biology, and material and physical sciences and translating that knowledge to health, socioeconomic, and environmental benefits on Earth is another common goal of the agencies: returning the knowledge gained in space research for the benefit of society. Finally, all the agencies are unified in their goals to apply knowledge gained through ISS research in human physiology, radiation, materials science, engineering, biology, fluid physics, and technology: enabling future space exploration missions.