The International Space Station (ISS) marked 25 years of continuous human occupation in early November 2025, representing one of the most monumental achievements in modern science. Since November 2, 2000, astronauts and cosmonauts have lived and worked aboard the orbiting facility without interruption. The first long-term crew — NASA’s Bill Shepherd and Russia’s Sergei Krikalev and Yuri Gidzenko — traveled from Kazakhstan in October 2000 and stayed nearly five months. Over 290 individuals from 26 nations have since visited, including professionals, space tourists, and even filmmakers. The ISS, now roughly the size of a football field, serves as a hub for international cooperation and innovation. Its continuous use demonstrates humanity’s growing proficiency in space operations and long-term survival beyond Earth.

Technological and scientific progress aboard the ISS has been indispensable to future space exploration. Thousands of studies have been conducted, from plant growth and material testing to health monitoring in microgravity. Experiments such as NASA’s twins study with astronauts Scott and Mark Kelly provided unprecedented insights into how the human body adapts to space. Living conditions have also improved through better food systems, communication technology, and modernized laboratories. Despite issues such as orbital debris and equipment wear, the station continues to operate effectively. NASA plans to retire the ISS by 2030, with private companies like Axiom Space preparing successor stations to sustain international research. This transition marks a pivotal shift toward commercial spaceflight, ensuring that human presence in orbit remains a lasting symbol of cooperation and scientific ambition.