What is the height of the ISS orbit? The orbit of the ISS around the Earth

The international space station was launched into space in 1998. Currently almost seven thousand days, day and night, the best minds are working on solving complex puzzles in zero gravity.

Outer space

Everyone, at least once saw this unique object, asked a logical question: what is the orbital altitude of the international space station? That's just to answer it in one word is impossible. Height orbit international space station ISS depends on many factors. Take a closer look.

The Orbit of the ISS around the Earth is reduced due to the effects of the rarefied atmosphere. The speed is reduced, respectively, and decreases height. Again rushed up? The orbital altitude of the ISS may vary with engines of ships that dock to it.

Different heights

For the entire duration of a space mission, there were several key values. In February 2011, the height of the ISS orbit was 353 km All calculations are made relative to sea level. The altitude of the ISS orbit in June of the same year increased to three hundred seventy-five kilometers. But this was not the limit. Just two weeks the NASA gladly answered the question “What is the height of the ISS orbit at the moment?” - three hundred eighty-five kilometers.

This is not the limit

The Height of the ISS orbit was still insufficient for resistance to natural friction. The engineers went on to be responsible and very risky step. The altitude of the ISS orbit had to be raised to four hundred kilometers. But this event happened later. The problem was that only ships raised the ISS. The altitude of the orbit was restricted to the Shuttle Bay. Only with time the restriction was abolished for the crew and the ISS. The altitude of the orbit in 2014 exceed 400 kilometers above the sea level. Maximum mean value was recorded in July and amounted to 417 km. In General, height adjustments are carried out continuously for fixing the optimal route.

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History

Even back in 1984, the U.S. government had plans to run in the nearest space large-scale research project. Alone to carry out such a big building even the Americans were quite difficult and the development was connected to Canada and Japan.

In 1992, the campaign was included in Russia. In the early nineties Moscow was planning a large-scale project “Mir-2». But economic problems are not allowed to be grandiose plans. Gradually the number of countries participating has grown to fourteen.

Red tape took more than three years. Only in 1995 was adopted the sketch of the station, and a year – configuration.

The Twentieth of November 1998 was a remarkable day in the history of world cosmonautics – the first unit was successfully delivered to orbit our planet.

Build

The ISS is brilliant in its simplicity and functionality. The station consists of independent units that are interconnected as a great designer. It is impossible to calculate the exact cost of the project. Each new unit manufactured in one country and, of course, vary in price. All of these parts you can attach a huge amount, thus, the station can be updated constantly.

Validity

Due To the fact that the blocks of the station and its content can be changed and upgraded unlimited number of times, the ISS can long surf-earth orbit.

The First alarm bell rang in the 2011 year, due to its high cost were minimized "space Shuttle".

But nothing terrible happened. Goods were regularly delivered to the space by other vehicles. In 2012 to ISS successfully docked with the private Shuttle for commercial purposes. Subsequently, a similar event occurred repeatedly.

Threats to the station can only be political. Periodically officials from different countries are threatening to stop supporting the ISS. First plans poderina was painted up to 2015, then 2020. To date, roughly there is an agreement to keep the station until 2027.

And while politicians argue among themselves, the ISS in 2016, made the one hundred thousandth orbit around the planet, which originally called “Jubilee”.

Electricity

Sit in the dark, of course, interesting, but sometimes boring. On the ISS every minute weight in gold, so the engineers were soundly puzzled by the need for uninterrupted electrical crew.

There have Been proposed many different ideas, and in the end agreed that the best solar panels in space there can be nothing.

During the project implementation the Russian and the U.S. side went their separate ways. Thus, the generation of electricity first made for the system is 28 volts. The tension in the American block – 124.

The day of the ISS makes multiple orbits around the Earth. One revolution – about half an hour, forty-five minutes of which are in the shade. Of course, at this time, generation from solarpanels impossible. The feed station Nickel-hydrogen battery. The period of operation of such a device for about seven years. The last time they changed in 2009-m, so very soon the engineers will be implemented the long-awaited replacement.

Device

As previously written, the ISS is a huge designer, whose parts are easily connected to each other.

As of March 2017, the station has fourteen elements. Russia has put five blocks, called “the dawn”, “Search”, “Star”, “the Dawn” and “Pearce”. The Americans of its seven parts was given the following names: “unity”, “destiny”, “tranquility”, “Quest”, “Leonardo”, “Dome” and “Harmony”. The countries of the European Union and Japan have yet to its credit, one unit: «Columbus» and «Kibo".

Parts are constantly changing, depending on the set before the crew tasks. On the way several more blocks, which will greatly enhance the research capabilities of the crew. Most interesting, of course, the laboratory modules. Some of them have total integrity. Thus, they can explore absolutely everything, right up to alien beings, without the risk of infection for the crew.

Other units are designed for generating the necessary media for normal human life. Third you have to try to go into space and perform research, monitoring, or repairs.

Part of the units do not carry a research load and are used as repositories.

Ongoing studies

Numerous studies – actually what policy in the nineties decided to send into space designer, the cost of which currently estimated at more than two hundred billion dollars. For this money you can buy a dozen of countries and to a small sea as a gift.

Now, the ISS has unique features that are not found in any terrestrial laboratory. First – there is a boundless vacuum. Second – the virtual absence of gravity. Third – the most dangerous cosmic radiation, not spoiled by refraction in the earth's atmosphere.

Researchers do not feed bread, but give us something to study! They are happy to not fulfill their duties, even in spite of the deadly risk.

Most scientists are interested in biology. This sector includes biotechnology and medical research.

Other scientists often forget about the dream, exploring physical forces of extraterrestrial space. Materials quantum physics – only a part of the study. A favorite pastime for many revelations – test different liquids in microgravity.

Experiments with vacuum, in General, may be conducted out of the blocks, right in the open space. Earth's scientists can only to envy, watching the experiments on video.

Any man on Earth would give anything to have one spacewalk. For plant employees it is almost a routine thing.

Insights

Despite the disgruntled cries of many naysayers about the futility of the project, scientists of the ISS has made many interesting discoveries which have allowed otherwise to look at the cosmos as a whole, and our planet.

Every day these brave people get a huge dose of radiation, and for scientific research, which will give humanity unprecedented opportunities. One can only admire their stamina, courage and determination.

ISS is a large object that can be seen from the surface of the Earth. There is even a website where you can enter the coordinates of your city and the system accurately tell what time it will be possible to try to witness the station being in the sun loungers on your balcony.

Of Course, the space station many opponents, but fans much more. This means that the ISS will surely stay in its orbit four hundred miles above sea level and will show avid skeptics how wrong they were in their forecasts and predictions.