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Why does the ISS fall to Earth?

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Why does the ISS fall to Earth?

He said that for this scenario, the force of gravity on the ISS equates to the centripetal force of the ISS traveling in a curve around the Earth. Gravity pulls the object towards the center of the planet and also provides the acceleration that forces the object to travel in a circular path.

Why does the ISS not crash into Earth?

The Short Answer: Gravity—combined with the satellite’s momentum from its launch into space—cause the satellite to go into orbit above Earth, instead of falling back down to the ground.

Why does ISS not rotate?

Science-fiction space stations simulate gravity by rotating. The International Space Station doesn’t spin because it’s used for low-gravity research. Creating artificial gravity, which comes with a number of technical constraints, would eliminate this unique asset.

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How does the ISS stay in orbit around the Earth?

The ISS moves in a circle around Earth at just the right speed. The centrifugal force pushing it away is exactly the same as the force of gravity pulling it in. This balance is called a stable orbit. And unless something happens to change it, it will continue.

Will the ISS crash into Earth?

The risk if the space station does fall to Earth on its own is significant, McDowell argued. At about 400 tons, the space station is by far the heaviest human-made object ever to circle Earth. The larger an object is, the less likely the atmosphere is to be able to fully burn it up.

Why isn’t the ISS in a higher orbit?

The International Space Station is in a low orbit out of necessity. There are multiple limitations that force us to put the ISS where it is. The ISS was assembled in large by the Space Shuttle. It just isn’t possible for the Orbiter to deliver such payloads to an orbit much higher than where the ISS is located.

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Will the ISS fall out of orbit?

For the ISS, which orbits at a height of about 200 miles (322 kilometers), that’s roughly 17,500 miles (28,163 kilometers) an hour. But low-Earth orbit isn’t a perfect vacuum. Without those propellant burns, the station would eventually drop from orbit.