What is the most expensive object constructed by human beings? Is it the majestic Taj Mahal or a modern marvel like the Burj Khalifa in Dubai?. No, the answer to this intriguing question, which may come as a surprise to many, is that the “most expensive object ever made” is not something many would have even seen a picture of, because its on Earth. Its in space!.
Yes, you heard it right, the object we are talking about is the International Space Station (ISS), built at a cost of more than $100 billion and hovering over our planet at a distance of over 400 kms, and orbiting the blue marble at 28,163.52 kmph
What makes the International Space Station so expensive?
The International Space Station (ISS) was born out NASA’s modular space station project, Freedom, which it planned to launch as a counterpart to the Soviet Union’s Salyut and Mir space stations in the early 80s. However, Freedom, due to its enormous sale and cost of building and operation, evolved into a collaborative effort between NASA and three other major space agencies of the time — Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the Russian space agency Roscosmos.
The ISS was launched into orbit on November 20, 1998, and is said to have cost over $100 billion, with some estimates running the costs up to $150 billion.
Besides the initial cost, millions of dollars are spent each year on the maintenance and repairs of this technological marvel.
ISS – A marvel of human ingenuity
The International Space Station (ISS), is truly a marvel of human ingenuity and technological innovation, and was meant to serve as a base in low-Earth orbit for future manned missions to the Moon, Mars, asteroids and other celestial bodies in our solar system.
Besides acting a potential base for future missions, the ISS is also designed to serve as a factory, a laboratory, and an observatory. The engineers who built ISS, designed the massive space station as a future-proof structure by incorporating a modular structure which allows for easy modifications.
The modular design of the ISS allows the adding or removal of modules as and when required.
The ISS also features advanced life support systems for astronauts which controls the environment, provides sustenance, manages sanitation, and detects fires on board. The space station also has a research facility onboard in addition to cutting-edge power management units, and communication system.
Recently, the International Space Station (ISS) was officially recognized as the “most expensive man-made object” by Guinness World Records. As per the record keeper’s website, the ISS project is estimated to have cost in excess of $100 billion with some sources indicating that the total cost may have exceeded a whopping $150 billion.