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Sunita Williams recently made history when she spent six months in space, longer than any woman before her.

Sunita was on International Space Station (ISS), a massive international project which is still not completely constructed. This station is a base for space scientist to do a long term research. The ISS, which 108m wide and 57m long, is placed 400km, above the Earth’s surface. It completes one orbit of Earth every 90 minutes. Astronauts reach the ISS through space shuttles.

Scientist do experiments for developing better computers, for creating new pharmaceuticals and for improving crop yield. They also study Earth in detail, collecting data on global warming, pollution, cyclones and rain patterns. They study other planets and cosmic bodies.

Because there is no gravity in space, scientists get a different environment to conduct their research, Of course this also means that all the equipment has to be tied down with seat belts, otherwise it would be floating all over the space station! Sunita Williams, a flight engineer, was a part of the crew that is building the ISS.