# So, uh, what about the ISS? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 1, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-what-about-the-iss/152146 "2003-02-01T19:37:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-what-about-the-iss/152146/1 "2003-02-01T19:37:34Z")
Someone, please correct me if I am under an incorrect assumption. The ISS _requires_ the shuttle to boost its orbit. Without regular boosts, the ISS will fall. NASA will almost certainly _not_ fly the shuttle again until this accident is completely understood and resolved. God only knows how long that will be… it was over 2 years after _Challanger_, wasn’t it? Once again, **The ISS _requires_ the shuttle to boost its orbit. Without regular boosts, the ISS will fall.** Now, I know there is a soyuz lifeboat up there for the Astronauts/Cosmonauts, so at least the people aren’t in jeoprady, but what about the actual station? How long can it survive without the Shuttle? Is there another manner for it to boost its altitude without the Shuttle? ---
**Author:** ![AndrewL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-what-about-the-iss/152146/2 "2003-02-01T19:42:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bernse \* > **The ISS _requires_ the shuttle to boost its orbit. Without regular boosts, the ISS will fall.** Unless I’m mistaken, the ISS has its own manuevering thrusters. Progress supply ships and Soyuz crew transfer ships can still be sent up to keep it supplied, and those can also be used for orbital boosts. The ISS can stay in operation without the shuttle. The only thing they can’t do easily is add new parts to it. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-what-about-the-iss/152146/3 "2003-02-01T19:44:31Z")
It doesn’t require, nor even use, the shuttle for orbital adjustments. The ISS has its own attitude adjustment thrusters to accomplish this. As long as the ISS can be supplied with fuel, it can maintain it’s orbit indefinitely. ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-what-about-the-iss/152146/4 "2003-02-01T20:11:29Z")
> [@](#): > > It doesn’t require, nor even use, the shuttle for orbital adjustments I am quite certain the orbit of ISS has been boosted by the shuttle in the past. I was under the impression it could only make relatively “small” adjustments on its own. I’ll do some more digging, see if I can get more info. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-what-about-the-iss/152146/5 "2003-02-01T21:21:10Z")
Yes, the shuttle regularly gives the ISS a boost. [http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/sarex/200010/msg00013.html](http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/sarex/200010/msg00013.html) > [@](#): > > By MARCIA DUNN > .c The Associated Press > > CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Oct. 16) [2000] - Two spacewalking astronauts working with a crewmate inside shuttle Discovery attached a new docking port to the international space station on Monday. > > \< snip \> > > Discovery’s pilots fired the shuttle thrusters Monday and boosted the station into a slightly higher orbit; two more lifts are planned. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special\_report/iss/359901.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/iss/359901.stm) > [@](#): > > Friday, 4 June, 1999, 12:40 GMT 13:40 UK > Shuttle astronauts head home > > Just before undocking commander Kent Rominger and pilot Rick Husband fired the shuttle’s thrusters to boost the ISS nearly 10km (six miles) higher. [http://www.spacedaily.com/news/iss-00x.html](http://www.spacedaily.com/news/iss-00x.html) > [@](#): > > Atlantis Gives ISS A Boost > Washington (AFP) May 24, 2000 - The space shuttle Atlantis has moved the International Space Station (ISS) into a higher orbit to avoid its sliding into the Earth’s atmosphere. [http://www.exn.ca/iss/index.cfm?URL=http://www.exn.ca/iss/home.cfm?id=2001012452](http://www.exn.ca/iss/index.cfm?URL=http://www.exn.ca/iss/home.cfm?id=2001012452) > [@](#): > > Before returning to Earth February 20, [2001], Atlantis also used its rockets to boost ISS into a higher orbit and astronauts filmed parts of their mission with a large format camera for an upcoming IMAX film. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-what-about-the-iss/152146/6 "2003-02-01T21:22:37Z")
Hit submit too soon. One more. [http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/orbtutor/page1.htm](http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/orbtutor/page1.htm) > [@](#): > > The station travels from west to east on an orbital inclination of 51.6 degrees. Each orbit takes 90-93 minutes, depending on the exact altitude of the ISS. During that time, part of the Earth is viewed under darkness and part under daylight. The ISS orbital altitude drops gradually over time due to the Earth’s gravitational pull and atmospheric drag. Periodic reboosts adjust the ISS orbit. As the ISS orbital altitude decays, the orbit tracks on Earth change slightly. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-what-about-the-iss/152146/7 "2003-02-01T21:51:01Z")
Sorry, I don’t know specifics, but they _must_ have contigency plans for what would happen if the Shuttle fleet was grounded. Tragic as the loss of the Columbia is, it isn’t an unforseen possibility. Wait, I’m watching the NASA news conference now and they just asked this question!!! A Progress vehicle will resupply the station TOMORROW A Soyuz will launch in spring. They have consumables 'till June. They have months of supplies and they can be resupplied by Soyuz. No mention of boosts in the orbit. They don’t seem concerned by it. ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-what-about-the-iss/152146/8 "2003-02-01T22:26:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Podkayne \* > \*\*No mention of boosts in the orbit. They don’t seem concerned by it. \*\* Yeah, I heard that too. If they don’t seem concerned about it, it must be kind of a non-issue for them. I must have misunderstood the importance of the shuttle for boosts. Well, thats at least one bit of good news today. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-what-about-the-iss/152146/9 "2003-02-01T22:40:58Z")
The ISS does certainly require boosts every so often, and it may be that sometimes the Shuttle supplied those boosts, but it by no means requires the Shuttle. Any sort of rocket at all can boost an orbit, so long as you can attach it securely. Even at that, it doesn’t need to be all that secure: You can do it gradually, with very low thrust. > [@](#): > > I was under the impression it could only make relatively “small” adjustments on its own. But an orbital boost is, in fact, a “small” adjustment. If I recall the figures correctly, to boost an object in low earth orbit by 10 km would only require a [symbol]D[/symbol]V of less than a hundred mph. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-what-about-the-iss/152146/10 "2003-02-01T23:05:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AndrewL \* > **The ISS can stay in operation without the shuttle. The only thing they can’t do easily is add new parts to it.** It has already been reported on the news that the shuttle cannot be grounded for long, since it is needed to supply the ISS. [ul]:rolleyes: [sup]Yes, I listen to the talking heads, too much. Sue me![/sup][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-what-about-the-iss/152146/11 "2003-02-01T23:09:54Z")
[ul]😃 [sup]If the above is wrong, it could be because I got tired of the coverage and turned the tube off. So sue me, again.[/sup][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![TeleTronOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4af34b/32.png) [@TeleTronOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeleTronOne)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-what-about-the-iss/152146/12 "2003-02-01T23:12:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kniz \* > \*\*It has already been reported on the news that the shuttle cannot be grounded for long, since it is needed to supply the ISS. > > [ul]:rolleyes: [sup]Yes, I listen to the talking heads, too much. Sue me![/sup][/ul] \*\* It’s been mentioned previously before, but I was under the impression that the russians sent up regular unmanned auto-supply flights. The real problem would be when the guys on the ISS have to go home, and they need a new crew. The shuttle usually delivers a new crew to the ISS. The russians are capable of doing it, technically speaking, but somebody might need to light a fire under their ass and hand them a big check to handle the logistics. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-what-about-the-iss/152146/13 "2003-02-01T23:24:36Z")
I got the impression that the “boosts” from the Space Shuttle were sort of the icing on the cake: a nice bonus, but not really neccessary, and that it was more a question of the Shuttle using some of _its_ fuel–since it would be landing soon anyway–and thus allowing the ISS to save its own fuel for later, rather than keeping the station from immediate disaster. ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-what-about-the-iss/152146/14 "2003-02-02T00:01:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TeleTronOne \* > \*\*The real problem would be when the guys on the ISS have to go home, and they need a new crew. The shuttle usually delivers a new crew to the ISS. The russians are capable of doing it, technically speaking, but somebody might need to light a fire under their ass and hand them a big check to handle the logistics. \*\* The Soyuz ‘lifeboat’ needs to be replaced twice a year anyway. Normally, they have a crew bring up a new one, visit for several days, then return to Earth in the old one. There’s no reason they can’t have the replacement ISS crew fly up the new Soyuz and have the old ISS crew return in the old Soyuz. Eric