The International Space Station (ISS) is in the news frequently. However, while photos and video from the Space Station are frequently passed around, the larger ISS mission is frequently ignored.

Five space agencies representing the United States, Canada, Japan, Russia and 11 European Union countries participate in the ISS. While the photography from the station is frequently spectacular, the primary purpose of the station is scientific research.

The latest NASA app, Space Station Research Explorer, is designed to focus attention on the important scientific work going on aboard the ISS. The app provides video, photos, interactive media and in-depth descriptions to explain the experiments being conducted and provide an overview of the space station’s facilities.

The “Experiments” section of the app provides access to the six primary categories of ISS experiments and their subcategories. They are laid out in a timeline that demonstrates when experiments were conducted. Users can drill down to find information on specific subjects and experiments. Each experiment description consists of images, links and publications.

The primary areas of research for the ISS are biology and biotechnology, Earth and space science, educational activities and outreach, human research, physical science and technology development and demonstration. One primary are of focus has been life in space. Research has been done on radiation exposure, the reaction of the human body to diminished gravity, plant growth and other areas that will be critical for the future of deep space exploration.

The ISS has also played an important role in researching Earth’s atmosphere, including ozone, water vapour, aerosols, oxides and greenhouse gasses as well as cosmic rays, dark matter, antimatter and cosmic dust in the universe. All of this provides critical information on everything from Earth’s current climate to how planets form.

The facilities section of the app provides a look at the interior of the three modules of the ISS, Destiny, Kibo and Columbus. These sections can be navigated by dragging up and down. Tapping on a rack provides a description and information on experiments, if available.

The media section of the new app provides access to videos, podcasts and educational games and the benefits section provides information on the health, climate and educational benefits provided by the ISS.

“Space Station Research Explorer” which is free from the Apple Store or Google Play, is only the latest in a long line of new media offerings from NASA.

The NASA App contains a database of more than 13,000 images and provides the latest news and information on NASA, upcoming and ongoing missions.

The NASA Television app for iPhone provides live coverage and press conferences from the space agency as well as schedules for upcoming events. NASA TV also streams on from NASA’s web site and UStream. The NASA Spinoff iPad App features technology created by or for the space program that has made its way into consumer products.

In total NASA has created more than 50 apps which cover various aspects of astronomy, Earth, NASA programs and spacecraft.

The space agency also provides, through its website, a number of webcams including an ISS webcam. In addition, there are historical and photographic archives, podcasts, blogs and free ebooks.