Is the ISS important to space travel?

The International Space Station will provide many advantages to space travel.

Firstly, mankind will learn much new knowledge about living and working and space through the space station. This knowledge will be vital for future space exploration, such trips to other planets.

Secondly, much new technology is being developed through the space station. Through the combination of research on the ground on how to develop the space station, and the research actually taking place on orbit, much new technology will be developed for use in future space flight.

Thirdly, the International Space Station is bringing in a new era of international cooperation. Sixteen different countries are working to build the space station, including the US and Russia who once bitterly competed against each other during the Cold War. If man kind is ever going to establish a permanent residence on far-off destinations such as the moon and Mars, it'll take international cooperation.