25 Years of the International Space Station: Archaeological Insights into Living and Working in Space

Strategic Insights -

The International Space Station has been continuously occupied for nearly 25 years, housing visitors from 26 countries, including several who stayed for a year or more. This remarkable achievement represents a singular example of international cooperation that has endured through the test of time. With over 290 people having visited the space station, it is estimated that more than 40% of all humans who have ever been to space have been International Space Station visitors.

Key Takeaways:

  • The International Space Station is the largest, most complex, and most expensive spacecraft ever built, with a history of continuous habitation dating back to 2000.
  • 290 people from 26 countries have visited the space station, with 213 people staying for 30 days or more.
  • Astronauts have accumulated almost 127 person-years of experience on the station, providing valuable insights into what it takes to live in low Earth orbit.
  • The crew of the International Space Station engages in various activities, including decorating the walls with pictures, making birthday cakes, and snacking on candy.
  • The space station is highly nationalized, with each space agency controlling its own modules and activities, which may not be the most efficient way to run the station.
  • The International Space Station Archaeological Project used thousands of photos taken by the crew to track the movement of people and things around the site over time, providing valuable data for researchers.
  • The station has been the locus of thousands of scientific and engineering studies using almost 200 distinct scientific facilities, investigating everything from astronomical phenomena to crew health and plant growth.
  • The phenomenon of space tourism was born on the space station, with the first visitors entering the station in 2000.
  • The International Space Station Archaeological Project aims to provide an additional window into life on a space station by using archaeological evidence to track human interactions with the environment.
  • The project uses photos and other data to study the behavior, habits, and social dynamics of the crew, providing valuable insights into the effects of long-term space travel.

Statistics:

  • 290 people from 26 countries have visited the space station, including several who stayed for a year or more.
  • Astronauts have accumulated almost 127 person-years of experience on the station.
  • 213 people have stayed on the station for 30 days or more.
  • More than 40% of all humans who have ever been to space have been International Space Station visitors.
  • Thousands of scientific and engineering studies have been conducted on the station using almost 200 distinct scientific facilities.

Sources:

  • Walsh, Justin. (2025). "25 Years of the International Space Station: What archaeology tells us about living and working in space." The Conversation -- USA -- By Justin St. P. Walsh, Professor of Art History, Archaeology and Space Studies, Chapman University.
  • NASA. (2025). "International Space Station."
  • International Space Station Archaeological Project. (2025). "ISSAP Blog."