Working Together Above the Clouds

In 1998, sixteen countries began building the International Space Station, or ISS, high above Earth.

Today, astronauts from many nations live and work there for months at a time.

Because no single country could pay for such a huge project alone, they share the cost and the science.

For example, Japan built a laboratory, while Canada provided a long robotic arm.

When a problem appears, engineers in different time zones discuss it online and find a solution together.

In 2021, a small piece of space junk hit a Russian module, and the crew from three countries worked as one team to fix it safely.

Cooperation also happens far from the station.

Space agencies share pictures of Mars and the Moon, so scientists can study the same data.

Some people ask why we spend money on space when Earth has problems.

Supporters answer that weather satellites and GPS, which grew from space research, help millions of people every day.

Clearly, the sky is not a place for one flag but for many hands working side by side.