Seems like the 2nd one is always about 90 mins later
2007-10-17 23:33:57 · 4 answers · asked by Kelly666 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Wow!
I had a feeling that might be the reason, but I dismissed it thinking I was silly to think that it’s that fast.
Fark. I'm still awestruck that it travels that fast!
Thanks alot for your quick reposnses
2007-10-17 23:45:46 · update #1
It only takes 90 minutes for the ISS to complete an orbit of the Earth, that's why.
2007-10-17 23:40:20 · answer #1 · answered by acamar_sirus 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
That would be because it takes 90 minutes to complete one orbit of the Earth at the altitude of the ISS. There are actually several passes per night, but only a couple can be seen because the later ones take place with the ISS in Earth's shadow, so it's not reflecting light from the Sun when it passes overhead. In the earlier passes the Sun has set at your location but the ISS is high enough that the Sun still illuminates it and reflects off it to make it visible.
2007-10-18 06:41:34 · answer #2 · answered by Jason T 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yep, at the altitude of ISS it takes 90 mins to go round the planet once. It would be nice if a space plane could take off from London Heathrow and go in to orbit as the main flight (excluding take off and landing) to Australia would be only 45 mins instead of it taking practically a day. It should be better on environment too.
2007-10-18 06:52:42 · answer #3 · answered by Tony W 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ISS doesn't 'pass over' ... the Earth 'turns under'.
The space station just keeps zipping along... we landgrubbers ride our Tilt-a-Whirl underneath it.
Last week for about a minute, the ISS was visible in the SE, then an hour or so later, it was visible in the NW. Between the two passes, the Earth rotated a bit.
I feel nauseous.
2007-10-18 08:06:03 · answer #4 · answered by Faesson 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋