A first approximation of population distributions on the International Space Station

Abstract

This article presents an analysis of data derived from thousands of publicly available photographs showing life on the International Space Station (ISS) between 2000 and 2020. The analysis uses crew and locational information from the photographs to identify the distribution of different population groups - by gender, nationality, and space agency affiliation - across modules of ISS for the first time. Given the importance of ISS as the most intensively-inhabited space habitat to date, an international cooperative initiative involving 26 countries and five space agencies, and one of the most expensive building projects ever undertaken by humans, developing an understanding of which people are using different parts of the space station is critical for future usage of this and other stations. This study also sheds light on problems faced by future space station designers who are concerned with optimal usage of their habitats.