This month, the International Space Station (ISS) marked a historic milestone — the 25th anniversary of the launch and docking of the Unity module. Also known as Node 1, the module was the first U.S.-built component of the ISS.
Although almost two years would pass before a crew would reside on board the orbiting craft, this event was a critical first step in realizing the vision of collaboration in space for the benefit of all of humanity.
During the intervening 25 years, the ISS has been home to a rotating crew from a host of countries and the site of groundbreaking experiments that will help future astronauts and earthbound individuals alike.
“One of the most remarkable powers of space exploration,” says Secretary of State Antony Blinken, “is its ability to bring people together across geographies in pursuit of knowledge of the wider universe and in pursuit of progress right here on Earth.”
To learn about discoveries made on the ISS, let actor Mark Hamill, of Star Wars fame, take you on a journey to see how science in space reflects — or diverges from — innovations seen in the movies or on TV.
A version of this story was published October 6, 2023.