The International Space Station (ISS) is the most complex international aerospace project in history. Sixteen countries contribute to this massive structure that measures 360 ft (110m) wide and 289 ft (88 m) long. At Earth's surface gravity, the ISS would weigh 503 tons (456,620 kg). Constructed from specialized component modules, the ISS is designed to allow humans to live in space for long durations of time and provide a laboratory for both scientific and engineering experiments. The modular design allows sections to be completed and tested on Earth before being booted into orbit. In addition, the modular design provides a level of security to ISS personnel. Damage from a failure or rupture of a component module can be isolated and the crew evacuated to safe modules. Modular designs are also economical because they allow rapid adaptation to the station to specific uses without having to subject the...