What velocity does the ISS circle the planet at, resulting in frequent sunrises?
Answer
Roughly 17,500 miles per hour.
The crew aboard the International Space Station experiences a rapid cycle of light and dark because the station maintains an incredible orbital velocity of approximately 17,500 miles per hour. This high speed causes the ISS to complete about 16 orbits within a standard 24-hour period, leading the crew to witness a sunrise or sunset roughly every 45 minutes. This rapid visual cycle necessitates a standardized timekeeping method for mission operations to maintain functionality and crew health, contrasting sharply with the Earth-based experience.
Related Questions
What velocity does the ISS circle the planet at, resulting in frequent sunrises?Which standardized time system is implemented for the ISS crew to manage internal body clocks?How many sunrises does an astronaut experience during an 8-hour block compared to an engineer?What is the typical duration, in hours, of the scheduled work portion of an ISS astronaut's duty day in UTC?What frequently causes NASA engineers on the ground to work 50 or 60-hour weeks?Why is using Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) critical for ISS operations involving multiple nations?What characterizes the working structure for NASA individuals like interns entering the field?How does the scheduled work time of an astronaut (6-day week) compare to a typical 55-hour week engineer?What dictates the grueling work schedule of an astronaut candidate in training on Earth?How many sunrises and sunsets does the ISS crew observe in a standard 24-hour period due to their speed?