The ISS is the International Space Station, a collaborative effort among all nations with a space program. Due to this nature, the project is ongoing, and may be expanded at any time, by any national government that can generate the appropriate funding.
The ISS is in some way a follow-up to the USSR's Mir space station, which saw limited collaboration with other nations, but was put out of commission in 2001. It represents a unique environment to run scientific experiments, along with insight into the necessities that would be inherent in long-term space colonization.
"The ISS isn't a big deal. It's just a space station."
"The ISS is no Mir space station!"
"That was corny as hell."
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