What is the average orbital altitude of the International Space Station (ISS)?
Answer
About 400 kilometers
The International Space Station maintains a consistent orbital path around the Earth at an average altitude of approximately 400 kilometers, which is equivalent to roughly 250 miles. This height is significantly greater than the maximum altitude reached by commercial airliners, which is only about 12 kilometers, demonstrating that the ISS operates far above the bulk of the atmosphere where conventional flight is possible. This altitude places it well beyond the Kármán line, yet still low enough in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to experience residual atmospheric drag, necessitating active management.
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