There are currently two operational space stations in orbit around Earth: the International Space Station (ISS) and China’s Tiangong space station.

Current space stations

  • International Space Station (ISS): A large, modular station operated by a partnership of the U.S., Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada, continuously inhabited since 2000.
  • Tiangong: China’s Tiangong space station, smaller than the ISS, became fully operational and continuously crewed in the early 2020s.

Have there been more?

  • Historically, about 15 space stations have flown, including Salyut, Mir, Skylab, and earlier Chinese Tiangong test stations, but all except ISS and Tiangong have been deorbited.
  • These earlier stations were key testbeds for long-duration human spaceflight and paved the way for today’s two active stations.

What’s coming next?

  • Agencies plan future outposts such as the Lunar Gateway, a small station in lunar orbit to support Artemis Moon missions.
  • Several companies and space agencies are proposing new commercial space stations to replace the ISS after its planned retirement around 2030.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.