In 1998, the United States, Canada, Japan, Russia, and ten other European countries collaborated to create the International Space Station. Modules were created by experts from all over the world and then launched into space, where they were assembled into a functioning research laboratory and living space for astronauts. Thanks to the station, humans have been able to conduct experiments and collect data in a way that they had never done before. Today, over 280 astronauts from over twenty countries have visited the International Space Station. The contributions to STEM and space exploration aboard the ISS are far-reaching and ongoing for space programs around the world.