NASA TRAJECTORY · ESTIMATE6,793 km
Estimated distance from Earth’s centre, interpolated from NASA trajectory vectors. This is not instantaneous telemetry.
Why does the ISS remain in orbit?
Earth’s gravity continues to pull the station towards the planet. The ISS moves forward so quickly that, as it falls, Earth’s surface curves away beneath it. The station and its crew are in free fall, producing microgravity conditions aboard.
How is the value calculated?
NASA publishes a predicted trajectory containing position and velocity vectors. We interpolate between the two samples surrounding the current time. The trajectory can change; this estimate does not replace operational tracking.