What specific atmospheric layer imposes drag, causing the ISS orbital velocity to bleed off slowly?
Answer
The Thermosphere
Although the ISS orbits at an altitude of roughly 400 kilometers, this location is not a perfect vacuum. It resides within a very thin layer of the upper atmosphere known as the Thermosphere. Even this tenuous atmosphere exerts a small but continuous resistance, known as atmospheric friction or drag, upon the massive structure of the station. This drag acts as a subtle brake, slowly reducing the orbital velocity. When the velocity decreases, gravity gains a relative advantage, leading to the gradual lowering of the station's altitude over time, necessitating active intervention to maintain its operational height.
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