What maneuver is performed regularly to counteract orbital decay and maintain the ISS altitude?
Answer
Reboosts
Because atmospheric drag slowly depletes the orbital energy of the ISS, the station experiences a natural, gradual decrease in altitude. To prevent spiraling down into denser atmospheric layers where re-entry would occur within a few years, regular propulsion maneuvers called reboosts are essential. These reboosts inject the necessary kinetic energy back into the orbit, raising the station back up to its target operational band. Without these planned injections of energy, the effect of the minuscule atmospheric friction would eventually cause the station to fall out of orbit.
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