Why the Space Station Never Lands: How Orbits Really Work (ISS Explained)

Описание: Why doesn't the International Space Station fall to Earth? Because it IS falling — at 28,000 km/h, missing the ground on purpose. Here's how orbits really work.

The ISS orbits 400 km up, circles Earth every 90 minutes, and has been continuously crewed since November 2000. This deep dive explains orbital mechanics the intuitive way: Newton's cannonball, why astronauts float in 90% gravity, atmospheric drag, reboosts, daily life in freefall, the $150 billion price tag, and the plan to bring it down around 2030.

CHAPTERS:
0:00 The fall that never lands
0:25 What "orbit" actually means
0:58 The ninety-percent surprise
1:33 Sixteen sunrises a day
2:07 A football field at 28,000 km/h
2:43 The air that shouldn't be there
3:15 The push back up
3:46 Life inside the fall
4:18 The Cupola: the best window on Earth
5:03 Why it's up there at all
5:37 The price tag of falling
6:19 What comes after 2030
7:00 The last fall

Sources: NASA ISS reference pages (altitude ~400 km, speed ~28,000 km/h, 90-min orbits, crewed since Nov 2000); NASA learning resources (gravity at altitude ~90% of surface); NASA ISS FAQs (atmospheric drag, reboosts); SpaceX US Deorbit Vehicle contract (June 2024) for the planned ~2030 deorbit.

#iss #spacestation #orbit #spaceexploration #nasa #physics #scienceexplained