Key dates

1984 - US President Ronald Reagan says he wants to build a permanently manned, all-American space station.

1994 - President Bill Clinton relaunches the project following the break-up of the Soviet Union.

1998 - The first part of the International Space Station, the Russian module, Zarya, is launched.

2000 - The Russian module, Zvezda, joins the ISS more than 18 months late. Astronauts attach giant solar wings.

2 November 2000 - The first crew, Expedition One arrives on the station.

1 February 2003 - The Space Shuttle Columbia breaks up while re-entering Earth's atmosphere. All shuttles, which have been used to take parts to the ISS, are taken out of service, meaning building on the station goes on hold. New crews continue to visit the ISS, taken into space in Russian Soyuz space craft.

4 July 2006 - The first shuttle to take part in a mission to the ISS in more than three years takes off. Since the Shuttle Columbia was destroyed in 2006 there have been no missions to the station.