Space Station Freedom, 1980s space station design, computer artwork. This design, approved by Ronald Reagan in 1984, was never built. The concept was eventually scaled back and, from 1993, it was incorporated into the design of the International Space Station (ISS). The Space Station Freedom was intended to be built in Earth orbit. Two of the modules (cylindrical) are seen at centre right. The left-hand one is the European Columbus module, and the right-hand one is the Japanese NASDA module. A Space Shuttle is seen behind the modules, while an astronaut is seen by the solar arrays at centre left. The Moon is at upper left.