All image credits: NASA

The station's orbital construction started in November 1998 with the launch of the Zarya FGB control module. This photo was taken by the first approaching Shuttle crew during the STS-88 mission.

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The Zarya FGB control module (left) docked to the Unity module in the aftermath of the STS-88 mission in December 1998.

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The ISS, including recently arrived Zvezda service module and the Progress cargo ship, as seen at the end of the STS-106 mission on Sept. 18, 2000.

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During the STS-92 mission in October 2000, the Shuttle attached the Z1 truss segment with a large antenna (right) to the Unity module. This photo was taken during STS-97 mission during Shuttle Endeavour's approach to the ISS on December 2, 2000. Credit: NASA

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A visible size of the ISS grew dramatically with the delivery of the P6 truss, which unfurled giant solar panels above the outpost.

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The ISS after the STS-98 assembly flight in 2001, which delivered the Destiny lab (far right).

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The Quest airlock (top right) and the robotic arm had been the latest additions seen by the departing crew of the STS-104 mission.

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The station, as seen by the departing crew of the STS-110 mission. Newly delivered S0 truss can bee seen traversing the US segment. Also, a recently added Pirs docking compartment extends down from the Zvezda service module's nadir port.

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Starboard 1 (S1) truss extended the skeleton of the station away from pressurized modules during the STS-112 mission in October 2002. Credit: NASA

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The station regained its symmetry with the addition of the Port 1 (P1) truss during the STS-113 mission in December 2002. The configuration of the outpost "froze" at this stage for years, in the wake of the Columbia accident. Credit: NASA

The ISS as seen from the departing Space Shuttle Atlantis at the conlusion of the STS-115 mission on September 17, 2006. Click to enlarge

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The ISS as seen from the departing Space Shuttle Discovery at the conlusion of the STS-116 mission on Dec. 19, 2006. A new P5 spacer truss segment was added and P6 solar array wing was retracted during the mission.

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The ISS as seen from the departing Space Shuttle Atlantis at the conclusion of the STS-117 mission on June 19, 2007.

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The ISS as seen from the departing Space Shuttle Discovery at the conclusion of the STS-120 mission in November 2007.

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The ISS as seen from the departing Space Shuttle Atlantis at the conclusion of the STS-122 mission in February 2008.

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An almost completed International Space Station was photographed by the departing crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery at the end of the STS-119 mission on March 25, 2009.

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A view of the ISS at the conclusion of the STS-131 mission in April 2010, with non-Russian segments of the outpost virtually complete. Click to enlarge.

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A view of the ISS at the conclusion of the STS-133 mission on March 7, 2011, captures European ATV-2 (bottom) and Japanese HTV2 (center) cargo ships docked at the outpost.

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Space Shuttle Atlantis, carrying the Columbus laboratory module, approaches the ISS on Feb. 9, 2008. Credit: NASA TV

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Soyuz MS-01 approaches ISS on July 9, 2016. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos

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Initial approach of Progress MS-16 to the station went normally. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos

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The Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) reaches S4 point on its approach path, just 19 meters from the station on Thursday, April 3, 2008. Click to enlarge. Credit: NASA TV

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Japan's HTV cargo vehicle near the ISS.

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Original version of Cygnus spacecraft near the ISS. Credit: NASA

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Cargo Dragon spacecraft near the ISS. Credit: NASA

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Second commercial crew arrives at ISS aboard Dragon Endeavour spacecraft on April 24, 2021.

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