What is the International Space Station (ISS)?

Summary

Who Smarted? - Educational Podcast for Kids
Episode: What is the International Space Station (ISS)?
Release Date: March 24, 2025

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Introduction: An Unexpected Visit to the ISS

In this exciting episode of "Who Smarted?", hosts Jim and Karen find themselves unexpectedly touring the International Space Station (ISS). The episode begins with Jim and Karen accidentally entering the ISS, leading to humorous interactions with the Trusty Narrator. Their surprise visit sets the stage for an engaging exploration of life aboard the space station.

Jim [00:56]: "I'm floating."

Karen [02:05]: "All goody. I've never been on a space station before."

Understanding the International Space Station

The Narrator kicks off the educational segment by addressing fundamental questions about the ISS: its size, speed, participating countries, and daily life for astronauts.

Journey to the ISS

Jim explains their arrival via Russia's Soyuz spacecraft, highlighting the shift from the now-discontinued Space Shuttle program.

Narrator [03:09]: "But it's not. However, NASA did announce it would be deorbiting the ISS in 2031."

Size and Structure

The ISS boasts 13,696 cubic feet of habitable space and weighs roughly a million pounds. It's a modular structure, expanded through 42 assembly flights since its inception in 1998. The station is divided into two main sections:

• Russian Orbital Segment (ROS)
• United States Orbital Segment (USOS), shared among collaborating countries.

Narrator [04:28]: "Overall, you're looking at 13,696 cubic feet of habitable space and roughly a million pounds of total weight."

International Collaboration

The ISS is a remarkable feat of international cooperation, involving five space agencies:

• NASA (United States)
• Roscosmos (Russia)
• ESA (Europe)
• JAXA (Japan)
• CSA (Canada)

Europe's contribution comes from 11 member states, including Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

Narrator [04:52]: "The ISS is a collaboration between five different space agencies. Smarty pants."

Life Aboard the ISS

Jim and Karen delve into the daily routines and unique living conditions on the ISS, uncovering how astronauts manage food, exercise, and even sleep in microgravity.

Daily Movement and Speed

Traveling at 17,000 miles per hour (5 miles per second), the ISS circles the Earth every 90 minutes, resulting in about 16 sunrises each day.

Narrator [06:07]: "The space station has an amazing, specially designed 360 degree bay window, perfect for viewing the sun as it rises over the Earth."

Living Quarters

The ISS contains six sleeping modules and three bathrooms. Astronauts sleep vertically in sleeping bags attached to the walls to prevent drifting in microgravity.

Narrator [15:49]: "Space station astronauts sleep vertically in sleeping bags instead of lying down like we do on Earth."

Eating in Space

Food on the ISS avoids canned goods to reduce weight and prevent crumbs, which can damage sensitive equipment. Instead, astronauts consume foods in pouches and use extra spices to compensate for reduced taste perception in microgravity.

Narrator [11:35]: "Cans are heavy, which makes them expensive to haul all the way up to space. Plus, your sense of taste is reduced in microgravity."

Hydration and Recycling

All water consumed on the ISS is 100% recycled, including water reclaimed from astronaut urine and even lab animals' waste, ensuring sustainability in the closed environment of the space station.

Narrator [12:08]: "I'm proud to say that the water you're drinking is 100% recycled."

Exercise Regimen

To combat bone and muscle loss caused by prolonged weightlessness, astronauts exercise for two and a half hours daily using specialized equipment like treadmills with harnesses and resistance machines that simulate weightlifting.

Narrator [13:39]: "Astronauts on the ISS work out for two and a half hours every day."

The Reality of Microgravity

A common misconception addressed in the episode is the notion of "zero gravity." The Narrator explains that the ISS experiences microgravity because it is in a state of constant free fall toward Earth while simultaneously moving forward at high speed. This delicate balance creates the sensation of weightlessness.

Narrator [14:51]: "The reason you float on the ISS isn't because there is zero gravity. It's because the ISS is in constant free fall back towards the Earth."

Conclusion: Reflecting on Space Living

As Jim and Karen wrap up their tour, they ponder the possibilities and challenges of living in space. Their humorous attempt to negotiate the "purchase" of the ISS adds a lighthearted finish to an informative journey through one of humanity's greatest engineering achievements.

Jim [16:18]: "Lay it on me. Narrator."

Narrator [16:26]: "Ivan, the International Space Station is generally considered the most expensive single item ever constructed. From 1998 until now, it's cost $150 billion to build. So I'd say 151 billion should do it."

Production Credits

This episode was written by Steve Melcher and voiced by Jenna Hoban, Sheffield Chastain, and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design were handled by Josh Hahn, with Max Kamasky serving as the associate producer. The theme song was composed by Brian Suarez with lyrics by Adam Tex Davis. "Who Smarted?" is a production of Atomic Entertainment and Starglow Media.

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"Who Smarted?" continues to blend humor with educational content, making complex topics like the International Space Station accessible and entertaining for young listeners. This episode not only provides valuable insights into life in space but also fosters curiosity and a love for science and history among its audience.

Transcript

[Jim]

Psst.

[Narrator]

Hey, smarty pants. Welcome. Um, you mind closing that airlock behind you? Thanks. That's better. I take it you're not used to having special doors with airlocks after all, you probably don't live on the International Space Station, or ISS for short. Which, as you may have guessed, is where I'm very excited to be right now. Oh, who could that be?

[Jim]

Hello, Hello? Hello? Hello. We saw your listing online.

[Narrator]

Listing?

[Karen]

Oh, it's bigger than I thought it would be. Come on, Jim.

[Narrator]

Um, do you mind closing the airlock?

[Jim]

Whoops a daisy. Sorry, I ain't used to airlocks.

[Narrator]

Right. And you are?

[Jim]

My name's Jim. This here is my wife, Karen.

[Karen]

We're here for the open house. Are you the broker?

[Narrator]

Broker? I'm the trusty narrator.

[Karen]

Good enough.

[Jim]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

[Narrator]

Oops. Sorry. I should have mentioned the lack of gravity.

[Jim]

I'm floating.

[Karen]

Me too. Um, is every room like this?

[Narrator]

Pretty much. So wait, how'd you get up here?

[Jim]

Easy. It was just a six hour flight straight up from IRK and we hitched a ride on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft.

[Karen]

To be honest, it was a little uncomfortable. I was told there'd be shuttle service.

[Narrator]

Oh, yes. Space shuttles used to go back and forth to the ISS all the time. But that stopped when the shuttle program was discontinued back in 2011. Now anyone who wants to come here travels on the Soyuz.

[Jim]

See?

[Narrator]

I told you.

[Karen]

Okay, Jimbo, you were right. Hey, trusty, you mind showing us around? Sure.

[Narrator]

I was gonna show the smarty pants around anyway, so two uninvited guests won't make a bit of difference.

[Karen]

All goody. I've never been on a space station before.

[Narrator]

Most people haven't. But what exactly is the International Space Station? How big is it and how fast does it travel? What countries are part of it? And most importantly, how do astronauts eat, sleep and go to the bathroom? Time for another whiff of science and history on who smarted.

[Jim]

Who's smarted? Who's smart?

[Narrator]

Is it you? Is it me? Is it science or history? Listen up, everyone. We make smarting lots of fun.

[Jim]

Too smart and.

[Karen]

Excuse me, narrator. Before we get started, do you mind if I ask why the current owners are selling?

[Jim]

Well, maybe the astronauts are looking for something with a little more space.

[Karen]

Or more atmosphere.

[Narrator]

I don't know. Who told you the ISS is for sale? But it's not. However, NASA did announce it would be deorbiting the ISS in 2031. Hey, smartypants, what do you think will happen when NASA deorbits the space station? Will they A blow it to smithereens, B, send it hurtling into space for all eternity, or C crash it into the ocean? If you said sea, you're right.

[Jim]

I always wanted to live by the ocean.

[Narrator]

The plan is to let the space station slow down and fall into a lower and lower orbit until it plummets towards the Earth, disintegrating on its way. Whatever pieces that are left should fall harmlessly into a remote part of the South Pacific Ocean. At least that's where they hope it lands.

[Karen]

Well, if it's gonna be gone in less than 10 years, we should be able to buy or rent it for pretty cheap.

[Jim]

Good point. Say, how many rooms does this space station have?

[Narrator]

The ISS has six bedrooms and three bathrooms.

[Karen]

Sounds roomy.

[Narrator]

Well, more specifically, there are six sleeping modules and three toilets.

[Karen]

Oh.

[Narrator]

Oh, but it does come with a gym.

[Karen]

Ew. Now you're talking.

[Narrator]

Overall, you're looking at 13,696 cubic feet of habitable space and roughly a million pounds of total weight. And of course, you can always add on. Which is exactly what they've been doing, thanks to the 42 assembly flights that have arrived here since the first module was put in place back in 1998.

[Karen]

Put in place by who? Who are the current owners? Exactly.

[Narrator]

Great question. The ISS is a collaboration between five different space agencies. Smarty pants. Any idea who they are? I'll name a country and you call out if you think they're part of the International Space Station. Ready? The United States, Japan, China, Australia, Canada, Russia. That's four. One more, smarty pants. Is it A, Brazil, B, India, or C Europe? The answer is C. Europe. Yep, Europe. Which is represented by 11 member states. There's Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

[Karen]

Wow. And I thought the International House of Pancakes was exciting.

[Narrator]

But while there are five agencies collaborating, the space station is actually divided into two main sections. The Russian orbital segment, or ros, and the United States orbital segment, or usos, which is shared among the other countries.

[Jim]

Oh, look.

[Karen]

Is that the sunrise?

[Narrator]

Ah, yes. The space station has an amazing, specially designed 360 degree bay window, perfect for viewing the sun as it rises over the Earth. But get this. The ISS is traveling over 17,000 miles per hour, or 5 miles per second. Whoa. Which means we are currently circling the earth every 90 minutes. So that makes how many sunrises per day, smarty pants? Is it 6, 16 or 26?

[Jim]

Wait, I got it. 16.

[Narrator]

That's right.

[Karen]

17,000 miles per hour. That sounds pretty fast.

[Narrator]

It is fast. We could go from the Earth to the moon and back again in just.

[Jim]

One day without traffic. Speaking of, how is the traffic around these parts? I'm just thinking about my commute here.

[Narrator]

You don't have to worry about traffic jams up here, Jim. There are only four cargo spacecraft that make occasional trips back and forth to the iss.

[Jim]

Perfect. You mind showing us the kitchen now?

[Karen]

Oh, you read my mind, Jimmy.

[Narrator]

Sure. Step into the galley.

[Karen]

Mmm, looks fancy. But how do you eat in space?

[Narrator]

Great question. The answer right after this quick break. This episode is brought to you by ixl. As someone who's constantly balancing work and life, I know how tough it can be to make sure kids get the academic support they need, whether they're homeschooled or or in a traditional classroom. That's why IXL has been a lifesaver. It's an online learning program that covers math, language arts, science, and social studies with interactive practice problems, games and video tutorials. Plus, it makes learning fun, just like whosmarted. For homeschool parents, iexcel is the perfect supplement to your curriculum, giving kids personalized learning at their own pace. And for parents of traditional school kids, it is a great way to reinforce what they're learning in class, whether they need extra help or are just looking for a challenge. Make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL today. Podcast listeners get an exclusive 20% off when you sign up at ixl.com smartid Visit iexcel.com smartidnow to give your child the best learning support available. IXL where learning clicks this episode is brought to you by Squarespace. Smarty Pants it's quiz time. If you wanted to start a business, share your ideas with the world, or finally launch your site about history's weirdest inventions, what is the smartest way to do it? Is it A. Shouting your message from the top of a volcano? B. Training an army of synchronized skywriting parrots or circles? Building a sleek professional website with Squarespace if you said C, congratulations, you win the Internet. With Squarespace's design intelligence, you can build a beautiful website in minutes. No coding, wizardry or secret handshake required. Want to sell stuff? Squarespace Payments lets you accept Apple Pay, Klarna, and even credit cards. And because social media runs the universe, Squarespace Sell seamlessly connects your site to Instagram, YouTube, and more, so your fans or future customers can easily find you. Start your free trial [e-mail] smarted and when you're ready to launch, use code smarted to save 10% on your first website or domain. Now who's ready to make history? Hey, smarty parents. I love Green Chef because of how absolutely easy the meals are to make and how every night it feels like we're eating at a restaurant right at home. Variety is excellent and includes meals for special diets like keto, gluten free and calorie smart. With pre portioned ingredients, there's less prep, less mess, and more time to enjoy delicious meals. Green Chef's easy to follow directions means my kitchen phobic family members actually cook when we get our Green Chef kit. And it's a great way to get your kids involved in the kitchen too. Plus, Greenchef is owned by HelloFresh, which lets me switch between the brands for even more variety. And now my listeners can enjoy both at a discount with me. Thrive all year with clean, easy meals from Green chef. Go to greenchef.com smartedfree and use code smartedfree to get free salads for two months plus 50% off your first box. That's greenchef.com smarted free and use code smarted free to get free salads for two months Plus 50% off your first box. Green Chef, the number one meal kit for eating well. Now back to who smarted Right now we're in the galley or eating area of the International Space Station.

[Karen]

Hmm. I'm not loving the cabinet space. Where do you keep the canned goods?

[Narrator]

Actually, there aren't any canned goods. Cans are heavy, which makes them expensive to haul all the way up to space. Plus, your sense of taste is reduced in microgravity. So if astronauts stay away from preserved foods and use a lot of extra spices in their cooking, I could sure.

[Jim]

Go for a bag of potato chips right now.

[Narrator]

Yeah, potato chips. Or any food that could make crumbs is a big time no, no up here, smarty pants. Any idea why you can't have crumbs on the space station? It's because floating crumbs can get stuck in the sensitive space equipment. It's not like astronauts can just pop into a store to buy replacement parts.

[Jim]

Makes sense. Well, how about something to drink instead?

[Narrator]

That we can do. Liquids come in little pouches like your juice pouch.

[Karen]

I'll just have some water.

[Narrator]

I'm proud to say that the water you're drinking is 100% recycled.

[Karen]

Wonderful. Jim and I are all about saving the planet, even when we're not on it. What exactly is this water recycled from?

[Narrator]

Oh, astronaut urine.

[Jim]

What?

[Narrator]

Oh, and also the Urine of any lab animals.

[Karen]

That's disgusting. Also, my recycled urine water is floating like a little bubble.

[Narrator]

I know it sounds gross, but it's essential. It's not like we can get fresh water deliveries up here. But don't worry, it is perfectly safe to drink.

[Jim]

Speaking of, you know, how do astronauts go to the bathroom in space?

[Karen]

Yeah, how do you pee in zero GS?

[Narrator]

Great question. The bathrooms on the ISS are full of handholds and footholds so the astronauts don't drift off in the middle of their business. Ew. To pee, you can either sit or stand while holding a funnel tightly against you so that nothing leaks out.

[Jim]

Hey, what about, you know, oh, to poop?

[Narrator]

Astronauts simply lift the toilet lid and sit on the seat, just like on Earth.

[Jim]

Well, enough about that. Now, where's that gym you mentioned?

[Narrator]

Float this way? It's a pretty cool gym and you'll use it a lot. Astronauts on the ISS work out for two and a half hours every day.

[Karen]

Two and a half hours?

[Narrator]

Yep. They have to. Because one of the things that happens to your body when you spend a lot of time in space is that you experience bone and muscle loss. Why do you think that is, smarty pants? Is it because of A, weightlessness, B, space dust, or C alien attacks? Nope, it's not aliens. It's weightlessness. Whoa. Back on Earth, your bones and muscles get a workout every day, fighting against gravity just to stand up and move around. But here in space, you float everywhere, so your bones and muscles get weaker from lack of use.

[Karen]

I like this treadmill with a bungee cord and harness.

[Narrator]

That's to keep you from floating away.

[Jim]

This exercise bike right here, she's pretty cool. But how do you lift weights if everything up here floats in zero gravity?

[Narrator]

Ah. Astronauts don't lift weights. Instead, they use a special resistance machine to simulate lifting weights. But you said something earlier that I.

[Jim]

Want to clarify about pooping in space.

[Narrator]

No, smarty pants. True or false? There is zero gravity on the iss. Did you say true? Well, guess what? That is surprisingly false. The reason you float on the ISS isn't because there is zero gravity. It's because the ISS is in constant free fall back towards the Earth. At the same time, it's also hurtling forward at a fast speed.

[Karen]

17,000 miles per hour.

[Narrator]

Nice remembering, Karen. So the combination of constantly falling and zooming forward causes you to be weightless. Whoa.

[Karen]

Well, this has been a great tour, trusty narrator. But before we go, I'd love to see the master bedroom.

[Narrator]

Oh, well, master bedroom might Be overstating it a little bit, but here, take a look.

[Karen]

It's just a wall.

[Narrator]

Yes, but with plenty of room to hang your sleeping bag.

[Jim]

Hang your sleeping bag?

[Narrator]

Yeah, that's right. Space station astronauts sleep vertically in sleeping bags instead of lying down like we do on Earth. Some even Velcro their head to their pillow so it feels more like their bed back home. And each sleeping quarter is equipped with a sunshade, so you're not woken up by sunrises 10 times a night.

[Karen]

Well, I really thought of everything, huh?

[Jim]

So we're very interested now. What's the asking price? Price again?

[Narrator]

Well, like I said, the iss, it's not really for sale.

[Jim]

Come on, come on, now. Everything has a price. Lay it on me. Narrator.

[Narrator]

Well, the International Space Station is generally considered the most expensive single item ever constructed. From 1998 until now, it's cost $150 billion to build. So I'd say 151 billion should do it.

[Karen]

You know what, Jim? Maybe we should think about renting somewhere first.

[Jim]

Yeah. Sorry, no sale.

[Narrator]

Here, let me show you out. A big shout out to my smarty friend Wesley in Austin, Texas. I hear you love who's Smarted because it's funny and teaches you cool facts. Well, that is just music to my ears, Wesley. Thanks for being such a great smarty pants. This episode, International Space Station was written by Steve Melcher and voiced by Jenna Hoban, Sheffield Chastain and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Hahn. Whosmarted is recorded and mixed at the Relic Room Studios. Our associate producer is Max Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis. Who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production.