sourced story
November 1998Reputable sourceWell documented

The International Space Station begins

On the timeline · around November 1998 · The International Space Station begins19921994199619982000200220042006

What happened

Russia's Zarya module launched, joined weeks later by the US Unity node — the start of the largest structure ever built in space.

Why it matters

Continuously crewed since 2000: a quarter-century of international cooperation in orbit.

Sources

The International Space Station begins — A Timeline of Space Exploration · SourcedStory