This weekend's space Saturday post is dedicated to the building blocks on our journey to Mars. While robotic explorers have studied Mars for nearly half a century, NASA’s path for the human exploration of the Red Planet begins aboard the International Space Station. Astronauts on station are helping us prove many of the technologies and communications systems needed for human missions to deep space, including Mars, while operating near enough to Earth for a safe expedited return. The orbiting laboratory maintains an orbit with an altitude of between 205 and 270 miles (330 and 435 km) and completes approximately 15 orbits per day. Wishing everybody a very happy space Saturday with a view of our home planet as seen from station as it glides over Earth. Credit: NASA #nasa #spacestation #iss #timelapse #earthfromspace #birdseye #clouds #earth #stars #explore #space #photooftheday #exploration #photography #spacesaturday #journeytomars