1Space junk
In 2014, the International Space Station had to move 3 times in order to avoid being hit by space junk moving at 17,000 mph.
2ISS size
The International Space station is the size of a football field and can be spotted in night sky, as it is the third brightest object in the sky and orbits around the world every 92 minutes.
3Oxygen candles
There are “oxygen candles” also known as Vika oxygen generator that are sometimes used aboard the international space station and when ignited it provides enough oxygen for one person for 24 hours.
4Immortality Drive
On the International Space Station, there is a hard drive (Immortality Drive) that serves as a time capsule to preserve human DNA, in case some global cataclysm should occur on Earth. Among the DNA included on this drive are Stephen Hawking, Stephen Colbert, and Lance Armstrong.
5ISS Operating system
Before the ISS switched from Windows XP to Linux computers, Russian cosmonauts managed to carry infected USB storage devices aboard the station spreading computer viruses.
6Gyroscope
The ISS uses gyroscopes to adjust its position to keep its solar panels facing the Sun.
7Temperature fluctuations
The ISS experiences temperature fluctuations from 200°F to -200°F as it orbits the Earth.
Latest FactRepublic Video:
15 Most Controversial & Costly Blunders in History
8Telepresence robots
The International Space Station is equipped with telepresence robots, meaning ground controllers can perform maintenance, conduct research, and do other tasks unsupervised while the crew sleeps.
9Night Glider Mode
The International Space Station enters a so-called "Night Glider Mode" when it is shaded from the Sun by the Earth. This is to counteract the orbital decay which is caused by the slight atmospheric drag at the ISS's altitude.
10ISS module
Despite each module of the International Space Station being under the jurisdiction of the country that owns it, there are some laws that apply to the entire station including copyright law and procedures for criminal prosecution.
