26 years ago, today, Expedition 1 began our continuous habitation of space with NASA astronaut Bill Shepard and cosmonauts Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev. Earth is just as stunning and station is still a platform that opens the doors to our future on the moon and, eventually, Mars. In this orbit, on this day, we passed by the blue fishing boats and, in the end, even a little aurora. See if you can spot the landmarks from the map. You’re looking out of the port window of the cupola, so to the left of the line.
— Anil Menon (@astro_anil) November 2, 2026
I appreciate how Anil Menon doesn't explicitly go out of his way to make me feel old like Jared Issacman does:
If you’re under 26, you have never lived a day without someone orbiting above you. 26 years ago today, the first resident crew arrived at the ISS. Humanity has had a home in space ever since. The research and advances made possible by our crews, teams on the ground and international partners have helped prepare us to live and work on the Moon and Mars. As we transition to the next era of our presence in low Earth orbit, we build on everything they have made possible.
— NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (@NASAAdmin) November 2, 2026
I am...significantly older than 26. In fact, when I was 26, manufacturing ISS components had barely begun, and assembly wouldn't start for another 3 years. While I was growing up, such a station was merely a dream (sorry, Skylab, A for effort).
Anyway, it's the kind of cool thing we can do if we put our minds to it. What learning and wonders will the next 26 years of crewed spaceflight bring, in Low Earth Orbit and beyond?
Excelsior!
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