It takes the International Space Station (ISS) about 90 minutes to orbit the earth, meaning that it makes the journey around the planet about 16 times each day. As of July 2012, the ISS had traveled more than 1.75 billion miles (2.8 billion km). The voyage from Earth to the ISS takes about two days, partly because of the time that it takes to inspect a space shuttle prior to letting it dock onto the ISS.
More about the International Space Station:
- The International Space Station's orbiting speed is 17,239 miles per hour (27,743 km/h).
- Several websites allow viewers to track the International Space Station's orbit.
- Crews have occupied the ISS continuously since 2 November 2000.
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More Info: www.nasa.gov
Discussion Comments
When is the best time to see the space station?
How far is the international space station away from the surface of the earth?
When is the best time to see the space station?
Is the space station in a clockwise or counterclockwise rotation about the earth? And, how far is it from earth?
Could you please inform us as to the speed the ISS travels, either per hour or per minute?
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