This morning, at 7:28 Moscow time, the orbit of the International Space Station was adjusted using the engines of the "Progress MS-30" cargo ship.
The installation operated for 647.3 seconds, creating an impulse of 1 m/s. As a result, the station's flight altitude reached 416.7 km above the Earth, the Mission Control Center reported.
At an altitude of about 400 km, the atmosphere continues to resist movement, and the station gradually loses altitude. On average, the decrease is from several hundred meters to several kilometers per month. The rate of fall depends on solar activity, which changes the density of the upper atmosphere.
Corrections are carried out not only to compensate for altitude losses, but also to prepare for the docking or undocking of manned and cargo ships, as well as, if necessary, to avoid space debris. The maneuvers are performed using the engines of the "Progress" series ships, which are launched at the calculated moment, giving an impulse of the required magnitude and raising the station's orbit to the desired altitude.
Regular orbit correction ensures the safe operation of the ISS and the planned conduct of expeditions, which is critical for the implementation of international space programs.
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Orbit correction carried out at the International Space Station
