The international Space Station (ISS) is an incredible feat, not just technologically (and that aspect alone makes it a big deal), but because it shows what we can do when we put our differences — regardless of whether they are political, religious, racial or whatever else — aside and work together for the common good of mankind, and for the betterment of science. The 100-billion-dollar space-station has been semi-operational for over 16 years now (the first crew arrived on October 31st of 2000), with its first component having been launched into orbit aboard on the 20th of November, 1998. Despite the fact that it was built by Russia, it was funded by the United States — as were many other modules, including ‘Unity,’ ‘Destiny,’ and ‘Tranquility’ — but more than a dozen different countries have contributed to the initial costs and the ongoing-maintenance (In addition to Russia’s numerous modules, the ESA is responsible for ‘Columbus, and Kibō, the largest of them all, belongs to Japan).
Read more at Futurism: http://futurism.com/CMnyl