International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) is a habitable artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS programme is a joint project between NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe) and CSA (Canada). The station is divided into two sections: the Russian Orbital Segment (ROS) and the United States Orbital Segment (USOS). The station is expected to operate until 2030.
Mods: Habtech 2 (Benjee10) and Tantares for Roscosmos parts (Beale) Launchers: SOCK & reDirect and TantaresLV Optional: KAS, DMagic Orbital Science, Universal Storage 2
ISS is a modular space station with parts added over many years. For simplicity, the build guide is divided into three phases and follows the historical order that modules were added. Not all parts are included in the images. Some parts are not available in game, such as the Mobile Base System, but are listed here for completeness. Canadarm2, Dextre and other robotic manipulators can be crafted with Breaking Ground DLC or relevant mods. ESP's can also be crafted with stock parts (or Restock). The Roscosmos segments can be safely skipped if you're not using Tantares.
Starting with the Zarya Functional Control Block, Unity module and temporary installation of the P6 Truss and Solar Arrays on the Z1 Truss (Habtech2 Zenith Control Block).
| # | ISS Module | Kerbal Module | Launch Vehicle | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Zarya (FCB) | Proton-K | Can safely skip Russian segments if you don't have Tantares | |
| B | Unity (Node 1), PMA-1, PMA-2 | Union | Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-88) | PMA-1 docks to front of Zarya |
| C | Zvezda (Service Module) | Proton-K | Docks to rear of Zarya | |
| D | Z1 Truss, PMA-3 | Zenith Control Block | Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-92) | Z1 to Unity top node, PMA-3 to bottom node |
| E | P6 Truss & Solar Arrays | Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-97) | Temp installed on top of Z1 (optional: can skip this step as it gets moved later anyway) |
Covering installation of the Destiny lab and the main truss.
| # | ISS Module | Kerbal Module | Launch Vehicle | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | Destiny (US Laboratory) | Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-98) | Docks to front of Unity. PMA-2 relocated to front of Lab. Don't forget truss connector rear top of lab! | |
| G | ESP-1 | Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-102) | ||
| H | Canadarm2 (SSRMS) | Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-100) | Installed on port side of Destiny lab | |
| I | Quest (Joint Airlock) | Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-104) | Docks to Unity starboard node, PMA-3 relocated to port side node | |
| J | Pirs (Docking Compartment) | Soyuz-U (Progress M-SO1) | Docks to bottom of Zarya Functional Control Block | |
| K | S0 Truss | Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-110) | Installed on truss connector on top of Destiny lab | |
| L | Mobile Base System | Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-111) | Skip - not in game | |
| M | S1 Truss | Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-112) | Attaches to starboard end of S0 | |
| N | P1 Truss | Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-113) | Attaches to port end of S0 | |
| O | ESP-2 | Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-114) | Installed on side of Quest Airlock | |
| P | P3/P4 Truss & Solar Arrays | Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-115) | Attaches to P1 Truss | |
| Q | P5 Truss | Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-116) | Skip - integrated into solar array module | |
| R | S3/S4 Truss & Solar Arrays | Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-117) | Attaches to S1 Truss | |
| S | S5 Truss, ESP-3 | Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-118) | Skip S5. ESP-3 installed on P3 truss; later relocated to S3 |
Adding the bulk of the habitable parts of the station and completing the solar arrays.
| # | ISS Module | Kerbal Module | Launch Vehicle | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T | Harmony (Node 2) | Serenity | Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-120) | Docks to front of Destiny, PMA-2 relocated to front of Harmony (irl was docked to Union first) |
| U | P6 Truss & Solar Arrays | Relocated from Z1 to P4 Truss (or newly installed if you skipped that step) | ||
| V | Columbus (European Laboratory) | Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-122) | Docks to starboard node of Harmony | |
| W | Dextre (SPDM), Experiment Log Module | Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-123) | ELM docks to Harmony top node (optionally swap next step to save effort) | |
| X | JEM-PM, JEMRMS | Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-124) | JEM-PM docks to Harmony port node; ELM relocated to JEM-PM top node | |
| Y | S6 Truss & Solar Arrays | Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-119) | Attaches to S4 Truss | |
| Z | Kibo Exposed Facility (JEM-EF) | Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-127) | Installed on end of JEM-PM | |
| A1 | Poisk (MRM-2) | Soyuz-U (Progress M-MIM2) | Docks to Zarya FCB top node | |
| B2 | ELC-1, ELC-2 | Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-129) | Skip: not in game | |
| C1 | Tranquility (Node 3) & Cupola | Harmony | Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-130) | Docks to Unity port node; PMA-3 relocated to Tranquility port node |
| D1 | Rassvet (MRM-1) | Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-132) | Docks to Zarya FCB bottom node |
Adds the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module (previously a logistics module but converted into permanent storage), future experimental modules (BEAM is available in the Kerbalow mod).
| # | ISS Module | Kerbal Module | Launch Vehicle | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E1 | Leonardo (PMM), ELC-4 | Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-133) | Docks to Unity bottom node | |
| F1 | AMS-02, OBSS, ELC-3 | Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-134) | Skip: not in game | |
| G1 | BEAM | Kerbalow Mod | Falcon 9 (SpaceX CRS-8) | Optional: Installed on Harmony aft node |
| H1 | IDA-2 | Falcon 9 (SpaceX CRS-9) | Skip (not in game) Attaches to PMA-2 on Harmony fore node | |
| I1 | IDA-3 | Falcon 9 (SpaceX CRS-18) | Skip (not in game) Attaches to PMA-3 on Harmony top node (relocated from Tranquility) |
