20 Years Of People On International Space Station, Unravelling Secrets Of Final Frontier

On October 31, 2000, veteran NASA astronaut William Shepherd left earth on a journey to the international space station (ISS) with the distinction of becoming its first commander beginning almost two decades of continuous human presence in low-earth orbit. The International Space Station was a cramped, humid, puny three rooms when the first crew moved in. Now after two decades later when NASA is celebrating 20 years of continuous human presence on the international space station with 241 visitors later, the complex has a lookout tower, three toilets, six sleeping compartments and 12 rooms. November 2 marks two decades of a steady stream of people living there. Astronauts from 19 countries have floated through the space station hatches, including many repeat visitors who arrived on shuttles for short-term construction work, and several tourists who paid their own way.