International Space Station (ISS). View of the International Space Station (ISS) over planet Earth. At lower centre is the Russian-built Zarya (white) control module which is joined to the United States-built connecting module Unity (dark grey). The image was taken during Discovery Space Shuttle mission STS-96 (27th May - 6th June 1999). The aim of the mission was to supply the ISS with equipment necessary so that it can support its first crew. During STS-96 a small satellite called STARSHINE will be launched. The ISS will be completed in 2003 and will be used to study the effect of weightlessness on materials & biological tissues.