The International Space Station is the largest human-made structure in orbit and represents one of the most ambitious international collaborative engineering projects ever undertaken. Initiated in 1998, the ISS involves the coordinated efforts of five major space agencies — NASA, ESA, JAXA, Roscosmos, and CSA — along with contributions from 15 countries. The station serves as a microgravity research laboratory where scientists conduct experiments in biology, physics, materials science, and Earth observation. Its construction and continuous operation required developing novel protocols for cross-cultural communication, shared decision-making, and technical interoperability across vastly different engineering traditions and organizational cultures. It is particularly relevant in Environmental Science, Manufacturing and Public Policy.

International Space Station (ISS) supports interdisciplinary, co-production and transdisciplinary collaboration and is suited for multi-organization networks in in-person, remote and hybrid settings.

International Space Station (ISS) is classified as a well-documented case study, indicating broad adoption and available documentation. This case study examines the collaborative practices at NASA, ESA, JAXA, Roscosmos, CSA, drawing on experiences since 1998.