Why is the ISS orbit not straight?
There is no actual sine wave movement going on, the ISS moves around the planet above the red line, in a circle. The apparent sine motion of the ground track is entirely due to the Mercator projection being used when the map is ‘unfolded’ from globe to flat surface.
Does ISS have fixed trajectory?
From this view, the position of the line is approximately fixed around the center of the earth, with the angle almost fixed with respect to the stars (inertial frames). In this view, the earth turns to the right (west to east) underneath the path, causing the ISS to pass over ground farther to the west every orbit.
Does the ISS follow the same path?
The space station does not take the same track or orbital path for each orbit and this change provides good visible passes roughly every 6 weeks in each location on Earth.
What is the orbital inclination of the ISS?
51.6°
ISS: International Space Station
| Configuration | |
|---|---|
| Assembly complete | 2010 |
| On orbit | |
| Orbital altitude | 370-460 km |
| Orbital inclination | 51.6° |
What makes ISS move so fast?
Because the rockets that launched the components of the ISS started on a rotating surface (the Earth), the speed of that rotation is added to the speed the ISS travels in its orbit, meaning we didn’t have to burn as much fuel to get to 17,500 mph (28,000 km/h).
Does the ISS have WIFI?
Wi-Fi arrived in space when the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) installed the first access points (APs) on the International Space Station (Space Station) in 2008. The first Wi-Fi network in space was installed in January 2008 using Wi-Fi 4, the IEEE 802.11n standard.
What is the period of a geosynchronous orbit?
23 hours 56 minutes 4 seconds
A geosynchronous orbit (GEO) is a prograde, low inclination orbit about Earth having a period of 23 hours 56 minutes 4 seconds. A spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit appears to remain above Earth at a constant longitude, although it may seem to wander north and south.
Why is ISS on an inclined orbit?
Every intercept you do with the ISS requires an inclination match, so putting the ISS on an inclined orbit will greatly reduce the amount of fuel you have to use during repeated visits to and from the station.
What height is the ISS orbit?
254 mi
International Space Station/Orbit height
Why does the orbit of the ISS change over time?
The ISS orbital altitude drops gradually over time due to the Earth’s gravitational pull and atmospheric drag. Periodic reboosts adjust the ISS orbit. As the ISS orbital altitude decays, the orbit tracks on Earth change slightly.
What does precession on the International Space Station mean?
‘Precession’ (regarding the ISS) is the term that describes progressive westward change of the ISS’ ground track as it orbits the Earth. After each subsequent 93 minute orbit, the satellite’s longitude shifts (-) 22.5 degrees to the West.
What’s the orbit of the International Space Station?
The station travels from west to east on an orbital inclination of 51.6 degrees. Each orbit takes 90-93 minutes, depending on the exact altitude of the ISS. During that time, part of the Earth is viewed under darkness and part under daylight.
How is the orientation of the Earth affected by precession?
At the time of publication, it represented the best available science. Precession—the change in orientation of the Earth’s rotational axis—alters the orientation of the Earth with respect to perihelion and aphelion.