The International Space Station (ISS) is like the ultimate clubhouse for astronauts. It's a habitable artificial satellite that orbits Earth at an average altitude of approximately 408 kilometers (253 miles). The ISS serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory, where scientific research is conducted in astrobiology, astronomy, meteorology, physics, and other fields.

It's a multinational collaboration involving space agencies like NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (European Space Agency), JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), and CSA (Canadian Space Agency). Imagine the ultimate teamwork in the cosmos! Astronauts from different countries live and work together up there, conducting experiments and generally being space buddies. The ISS is like our cosmic outpost, helping us understand life in space and preparing for future deep-space exploration.