from Wiki ISS is a joint US-Russian venture.
The International Space Station (ISS) is a space station, or a habitable artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. It is a modular structure whose first component was launched in 1998.[7] Now the largest artificial body in orbit, it can often be seen at the appropriate time with the naked eye from Earth.[8] The ISS consists of pressurised modules, external trusses, solar arrays and other components. ISS components have been launched by American Space Shuttles as well as Russian Proton and Soyuz rockets.[9] In 1984 the ESA was invited to participate in Space Station Freedom.[10] After the USSR dissolved, the United States and Russia merged Mir-2 and Freedom together in 1993.[9]