Spotting the Space Station

Monday night we went to Big Pine Key to the No Name Pub for Pizza.  We were also on a mission to see the Space Station as it passed overhead.  Pulling off the road and jumping out of the car like we were playing Chinese Fire Drill, we spotted it and watched for about 2 minutes.  It is visible several days this week.  Visit Spot the Station to find out if it is visible in your area.  

The International Space Station is a spacecraft which is also a science lab.  Astronauts live on this station which many countries collaborated on in order to build.  These countries also work together to maintain and to use the craft.  Its orbit is about 220 miles above the Earth.  The station was first launched in 1998, with pieces being added year after year.  In 2000, the station was suitable for people to live on board. 

Weighing almost a million pounds, it has two bathrooms, five bedrooms and a gym.  It can accommodate six people.  It is as large as a football field and has labs from Japan, Russia, Europe and The United States.  

Photo  by NASA

We plan to look into the skies again on Wednesday evening when it should be visible for about 6 minutes.  It is very bright and moves very quickly through the sky.  Hoping we have clear skies.

Joy