BellaOnline Forums Education Astronomy Happy Birthday, International Space Station

The International Space Station (ISS) was 15 this week. For a quick overview of what's what with the ISS, have a look at the infographic prepared by NASA for the occasion.

The Space Station is easily visible - if the sky is clear - even in a city. It's quite bright. If you want to know when it will make a good pass overhead where you live, you can sign up for email alerts.

Remember some of the passes over your town will be during the day when you can't see it, or perhaps too low. And, of course, its orbit varies, so you may get a run of good passes and a long period of no passes. For the last few weeks the ISS has made plenty of passes over where I live, but I couldn't see them . . . because I had my eyes closed. Way too early in the morning for me!

There is a fascinating film about the earliest days of the Space Station. It's an IMAX film in 3D, and looking down on Earth may be the closest most of us ever get to seeing this amazing view.

I've seen the movie so many times I can still recognize at once the astronauts and cosmonauts who were on the station during the filming - plus a shuttle crew. (BTW this isn't a personal obsession. I used to take school groups.)

Space Station 3D - film review

I am bowled over by this fantastic cake showing the International Space Station. I wonder if it tasted as good as it looks. I don't think I could bear to cut into it. It would certainly be a great fifteenth birthday celebration cake.

Starting on December 6, NASA will show the ISS to the public in new ways. They will highlight the scientific research, new technology testing and the wonder of living and working in space. “Space Station Live” will now be in a 30-minute format, but still aired weekdays at 11 a.m. EST. A new weekly web series "Space to Ground" will be available Fridays on NASA's social media accounts – the public will be able to download and share them.

I think maybe Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield has inspired them - loved his tweets, photos and videos.