The
International Space Station (
ISS) is a
space station, or a habitable
artificial satellite, in
low Earth orbit. Its first component launched into orbit in 1998, and the ISS is now the largest artificial body in orbit and can often be seen with the
naked eye from Earth. The ISS consists of pressurised modules, external trusses,
solar arrays, and other components. ISS components have been launched by Russian
Proton and
Soyuz rockets as well as American
Space Shuttles.