ISS

@garymarsh6 (23393)
United Kingdom
April 6, 2020 12:16pm CST
The last couple of days the International space station has been flying over my house in the evening. Thankfully when it was dark enough just to see it. It flew just below Venus and slowly went across the sky in about four minutes until it went out of sight. It was travelling at what appeared to be a nice steady pace so you could watch it but in reality it is travelling at 17,500 mph. (@MALUSE 28158 kmh) Orbiting the earth every 90 minutes. Interesting facts about the International Space station. The first module of the ISS was launched in 1998. After that modules have been added all the time. Some modules need manual coupling whereas others can be coupled by use of computers. Astronauts and cosmonauts have completed 221 space walks. There are at least six people on the ISS. The record for the longest mission in space is held by Peggy Whitson who lived on it for 665 days. There have been 239 scientists and astronauts who have visited the ISS from 19 different countries. The size has increased so much that is is now the size of a football pitch at 357 feet long. The living accomodation is the size of a six bedroomed house. In 24 hours it sees 16 sunsets and sunrises. They have conducted 2700 different research experiments. I find this all quite fascinating. Have you ever seen the space station fly past? Photo courtesy of Pixabay.
13 people like this
12 responses
@thelme55 (76342)
• Germany
6 Apr 20
Fascinating. I have not seen the ISS. Thanks for the info.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
6 Apr 20
Well after visiting us it was heading in your direction. It is not due here again till 14th April. Perhaps you might like to see if you can see it where you live. Check it out on Nasa!
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76342)
• Germany
6 Apr 20
@garymarsh6 I see. Do I need to have a telescope to see it?
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@thelme55 (76342)
• Germany
6 Apr 20
@garymarsh6 I see. I will try to watch it. I still have to check the night when it will come.
1 person likes this
@mrki444 (15150)
• Croatia (Hrvatska)
6 Apr 20
Wow I love it. I want see it in live to.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
7 Apr 20
@mrki444 I live in a town centre and was still able to see it quite clearly. It flew just below Venus. Luckily there are no planes flying at the moment which is another bonus!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
6 Apr 20
Check out Nasa for when it is due over near you!
1 person likes this
@mrki444 (15150)
• Croatia (Hrvatska)
6 Apr 20
@garymarsh6 We have much light pollution so it is hard find clean night sky.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
6 Apr 20
How cool! Never noticed a space station flying overhead. I do see Venus every night in Florida.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
6 Apr 20
If you check out Nasa it should tell you when you are likely to see it next.
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@DianneN (246452)
• United States
6 Apr 20
@garymarsh6 Thanks! I will do that.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Apr 20
Where have I been? I didn't know any of this. That's pretty cool.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
7 Apr 20
I am sure you might be able to see it there at some time. Just type in your country and town on the Nasa app and it will tell you if and when !
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@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Apr 20
@garymarsh6 Vince said he has seen it. I'd be more interested to see it now I know a bit more about it.
@paigea (35511)
• Canada
6 Apr 20
Hubby loves all this.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
6 Apr 20
Brilliant let him know about it!
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@CarolDM (203478)
• Nashville, Tennessee
6 Apr 20
Wow this is very cool. I have never seen it before. Always too many clouds.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
6 Apr 20
It is not big but you can definitely see it. It looks yellow. Check out Nasa as there is an app you type your country and town you live in and it will tell you when it is due to fly over your place!
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203478)
• Nashville, Tennessee
6 Apr 20
@garymarsh6 I will do that but they also announce it on the news. But it always seems cloudy the night it passes over.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
6 Apr 20
@CarolDM Hahaha that is usual for the UK missing all these things due to the clouds but fortunately the last two night is was clear! On right they do not announce that here in the UK.
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
6 Apr 20
No, I would not know how to recognize it among all the sats turning over our heads. And I cannot see anything from my home, there are too many city lights and not enough visible sky.
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@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
6 Apr 20
I live in the town centre so there is light there all around. There were no clouds in the sky a few stars it passed by just beneath Venus. It is not due back to be visible until the 14th now as the trajectory changes each time it flies around, It does not whizz past but slowly goes across the sky! Lasting about 3-4 minutes!
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (84363)
• Wheat Ridge, Colorado
7 Apr 20
I wish it would fly by here and get me out of here Gary.
@Tampa_girl7 (48855)
• United States
10 Apr 20
I’m not sure that I’d know what I was seeing.
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
6 Apr 20
Thanks for the mention! I saw the first sputnik pass. It was only a tiny spot. But it was perhaps more exciting because it was *the first* space thingy.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
6 Apr 20
Yes I bet it was. I think they only give it another four years before they dismantle it and return it to earth! It was due to end this year!
@dya80dya (33053)
7 Apr 20
No, never. I wasn't that lucky.
@happylife1 (13411)
• Karachi, Pakistan
6 Apr 20
thanks for your information
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
6 Apr 20
It is a very interesting subject.