The International Space Station orbits Earth approximately every 90 minutes.
Zooming around the planet at 17,500 miles per hour, the ISS completes 16 full laps in a single day. That means astronauts onboard experience a sunrise or sunset every 45 minutes.
And it’s not just a speedy ride, it’s also a science lab, observatory, and international research hub all rolled into one. Here are three more fun facts about the international space station.
It’s as long as a football field.
The ISS stretches 357 feet end-to-end, just slightly longer than an NFL field. That’s a lot of room for zero-gravity cartwheels.It was built in space.
The entire station was assembled piece by piece, launched over the course of 13 years. Imagine building a LEGO set... while floating 250 miles above Earth.It recycles almost everything.
The ISS reuses sweat, breath, and even urine to make clean water. Not glamorous, but absolutely genius in space.
Every 90 minutes, the station circles the globe, a streak of light visible from Earth if you know when to look.
👨🚀 Try This at Home:
Check NASA’s Spot the Station tool and see if you can watch the ISS fly over your house tonight!
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