 Liftoff of the Soyuz rocket beginning the first expedition to the International Space Station and setting the stage for permanent human presence in space. NASA now announcing an $850 million contract with SpaceX to develop the vehicle that will de-orbit the station, allowing it to burn up in the atmosphere and splash down in the ocean. Five global space agencies have contributed to the ISS over the years. Unless extended, its current operational life is set to expire in 2030.