Who first suggested the idea of creating the ISS has it always been called the international space station if not what ws its former name?

The idea of creating the International Space Station (ISS) was first proposed by NASA in the early 1980s as part of the Freedom program. Prior to its current name, the ISS was known as "Freedom" in the United States and had various other design concepts in the 1990s. The project evolved through international collaboration, leading to the establishment of the ISS, which officially took its current name in 1998. The station symbolizes cooperation among multiple space agencies, including NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, and CSA.