NASA - Human Spaceflight International Space Station The International Space Station is the largest spacecraft ever assembled, orbiting Earth 16 times a day to provide an out-of-this world laboratory used for studies across all scientific fields. The Station's international crew represents humankind's longest continuous presence in space. Orion Orion is NASA's next generation crewed spacecraft, envisioned to take humans to distant targets including the Moon, Mars and possibly to an asteroid. Space Shuttle A marvelous three-decade career came to an end in 2011 when Space Shuttle Atlantis returned to Earth for the last time. Spaceflight101 covered the final two Space Shuttle Flights and the transition of the spacecraft to their new homes in museums across the United States.