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 The International Space Station amazes us all! People, living in space, it's almost out of some sci fi movie script, but really, it's not.
The following info is taken from the Nasa website and Wiki to explain the great project of the International Space Station (ISS)
The space station is called international because countries around the world came together to create it and send astronauts to the International Space Station.
Below is a very small list of modules contributed to the project and the countries they came from, but as you can see, almost every continent contributed and parts of the station have been built all around our planet. It is a world wide project that makes you wonder how much can actually be accomplished when everyone works in unity.
The worldwide endeavor started in 1998 and continues today, as of July 2008, the vision of the International Space Station was over 75% complete. 10 years of exploration and building... all to get a clue about ourselves and the world that we live in. I can only imagine what may happen in the next 10 years as the station grows.
 
The International Space Station (ISS) is a research facility currently being assembled in outer space, the on-orbit construction of which began in 1998. The space station is in a Low Earth Orbit and can be seen from Earth with the naked eye; it orbits at an altitude of approximately 350 km (190 nautical miles) above the surface of the Earth and travels at an average speed of 27,700 kilometres (17,210 mi) per hour, completing 15.7 orbits per day The space station is a joint project among the space agencies of the United States (NASA), Russia (RKA), Japan (JAXA), Canada (CSA) and ten European countries (ESA).[7] The Brazilian Space Agency (AEB, Brazil) participates through a separate contract with NASA.[8] The Italian Space Agency similarly has separate contracts for various activities not done in the framework of ESA's ISS works (where Italy also fully participates)[9]. China has reportedly expressed interest in the project especially if it was able to work with the RKA,[11] although as of 2008[update] it is not involved. The ISS is a continuation of several other previously planned space stations; Russia's Mir-2, the US Space Station Freedom, the European Columbus laboratory and the Japanese Kib? laboratory. The projected completion date is 2011, with the station remaining in operation until at least 2016. The ISS is larger than any previous space station. The ISS has been continuously staffed since the first resident crew, Expedition 1, entered the station on November 2, 2000, thereby providing a permanent human presence in space. The crew of Expedition 18 are currently aboard. At present the station has a capacity for a crew of three, however, to fulfil an active research program, beginning with Expedition 20, it will be staffed by a resident crew of six. Early crew members all came from the Russian and American space programs, until German ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter joined the Expedition 13 crew in July 2006, becoming the first crew member from another space agency. The station has been visited by astronauts from 16 different nations, and was the destination of the first six space tourists
Cosmonaut Sergei Volkov, Expedition 17 commander, makes final preparations for his departure in the Soyuz TMA-12 docked with the International Space Station 
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Russian Soyuz Spacecraft Soyuz TMA vehicles deliver crews, equipment and supplies to the Station. -
Russian Progress Spacecraft Unpiloted Progress spacecraft deliver fuel, equipment and supplies to the Station. -
Automated Transfer Vehicle The European Automated Transfer Vehicle is a new generation of unpiloted cargo carriers designed to supply the International Space Station with liquid and dry cargo as well as gases. -
Multi-Purpose Logistics Modules Italian-built Multi-Purpose Logistics Modules deliver tons of supplies to the Space Station. -
SPACEHAB Logistics Double Module The SPACEHAB double module is a pressurized, mixed-cargo carrier which supports various quantities, sizes, and locations of experiment hardware. -
Kibo Japanese Experiment Module The Japanese Experiment Module is Japan's first human space facility and enhances the unique research capabilities of the International Space Station. -
European Columbus Module Built by the European Space Agency, the Columbus laboratory module will expand the Station's research facilities. -
Harmony Node 2 The installation of NASA's Harmony Node increases the living and working space inside the station to approximately 500 cubic meters (18,000 cubic feet). It also allows the addition of international laboratories from Europe and Japan to the station. -
Integrated Truss Structure Composed of multiple elements delivered by the space shuttle, the Integrated Truss Structure forms the backbone of the station. -
Canadarm2 and the Mobile Servicing System Canada is contributing an essential component of the International Space Station, the Mobile Servicing System. -
Pirs Docking Compartment Pirs is a docking port for transport and cargo vehicles and an airlock for spacewalking. -
Quest Joint Airlock Quest enables crewmembers to perform Station spacewalks in U.S. or Russian spacesuits. -
U.S. Destiny Laboratory Destiny is the centerpiece of NASA science on the Station. -
Zvezda Service Module The Service Module was the first fully Russian contribution to the International Space Station and served as the early cornerstone for the first human habitation of the station. -
Unity Node 1 The Unity Node is a connecting passageway to living and work areas of the International Space Station. -
Zarya Module The U.S.-funded and Russian-built Zarya is a U.S. component of the station, although it was built and launched by Russia.
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