Do you think the plants on the space station are able to conduct photosynthesis? Explain why or why not. The International Space Station is a research laboratory that travels at a speed of 8 km per second and orbits Earth every 90 minutes. Solar panels provide power to the station, and life support systems supply oxygen and remove unwanted gases from the enclosed space. The water supply is supplemented by capturing and recycling the water vapors that enter the cabin when the crew members exhale and sweat! The crew members are researching ways to grow food on the space station in the hopes that they will be able to have fresh food available for extended periods of time in space.