Video Tools
Email Email Comments Comments
RSS RSS

Steering the Space Station

The International Space Station orbits about 250 miles above Earth. Although the atmosphere at that altitude is wispy, it still exerts enough drag to slow the ISS and cause it to lose altitude. At the same time, the giant, wing-like solar arrays swivel to track the sun, introducing disturbances to the station's orbit and alignment that build up over time. As a result, the ISS needs to be reboosted at regular intervals, and its heading and alignment need to be adjusted constantly. (0:26)

Animation: Bill Abreu

Related Article



Digg
 
Comments

Post a Comment


Name: (required)

Email: (required)

Comment:

Comments are moderated, and will not appear until Smithsonian.com has approved them. Smithsonian reserves the right not to post any comments that are unlawful, threatening, offensive, defamatory, invasive of a person's privacy, inappropriate, confidential or proprietary, political messages, product endorsements, or other content that might otherwise violate any laws or policies.



Advertisement


  • Newest
  • Most Viewed