does the international space station have gravitational pe
OF course, doesn't it take energy to increase its orbit altitude?
Yes, the International Space Station (ISS) experiences gravitational pull, just like any other object in space. However, the force of gravity acting on the ISS is relatively weaker compared to the gravity on Earth's surface.
To understand why the ISS experiences gravitational pull, we need to know that gravity is a fundamental force that exists between all objects with mass. The force of gravity is responsible for holding planets, stars, and other celestial bodies together.
The ISS is in a state of free-fall around the Earth. It is in a low Earth orbit, where it constantly falls towards the Earth but also moves forward fast enough to miss it. This continuous free-fall creates the sensation of weightlessness or microgravity for the astronauts on board.
Even though the astronauts on the ISS experience weightlessness, the gravitational force is not completely absent. The ISS and its inhabitants are still being pulled toward the Earth by its gravity. However, they are in a state of constant motion, which creates an apparent lack of gravity.
So, in conclusion, while the International Space Station experiences gravitational pull, the sensation of weightlessness is due to being in a state of continuous free-fall.