International Space Station (ISS). Computer compo- site artwork of the ISS orbiting the Earth. The ISS will be powered by about 4000 square metres of so- lar power panels (brown). The mass of the ISS will be about 450,000 kilogrammes. The inhabitable, pressurised modules (towards centre) will have a total volume roughly equal to the space inside 2 airliners. The 6 crew members will perform experiments such as studies of the effects of near weightless (microgravity) conditions on materials & biological tissues. The space shuttle may supply the ISS with new crew members, provisions & equipment. The ISS is due to be completed in 2003.