How many sunrises and sunsets does the ISS crew observe in a standard 24-hour period due to their speed?

Answer

Approximately 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets.

Because the International Space Station travels at an incredible velocity of roughly 17,500 miles per hour, it completes a significant number of full orbits—about 16—within one standard 24-hour period as it circles the planet. This rapid orbital motion results in the crew witnessing an entire sunrise followed immediately by a sunset approximately every 45 minutes. Consequently, over the course of a typical day as measured by Earth clocks, the crew members aboard the ISS observe sixteen distinct sunrises and sixteen corresponding sunsets. This rapid cycling of light and dark is the primary reason for implementing a strict time standard like UTC to manage crew operations and biological rhythms effectively.

How many sunrises and sunsets does the ISS crew observe in a standard 24-hour period due to their speed?

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