← Back to the archive★ Support my pages
DD-258Spacealso TechFiled Last updated

Look Up, Can You See It?

Short answer: The International Space Station is a modular space station in low Earth orbit, at about 400 km (250 miles), circling Earth about every 90 minutes. Its first module launched in 1998, and it has been continuously crewed since November 2000.

It is a joint project of NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, JAXA and the Canadian Space Agency, and serves as a microgravity laboratory. Because it is large and reflective, it is often visible from the ground as a bright moving point shortly after sunset or before sunrise. The footage shows the station and its crews, with the presenter.

VideoWrite-up1 sources
More like this★ Support my pagesCite this file

What should you know about Look Up, Can You See It??

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. The ISS orbits about 400 km up.

    DD-258-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (400 km)

  2. It circles Earth every 90 minutes.

    DD-258-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (90 minutes)

Video transcript: Look Up, Can You See It?: The ISS Orbits About 400 km Above Earth

DID YOU KNOW? The International Space Station, or the ISS, is a wonder of modern engineering and international cooperation. Orbiting Earth at about 250 miles above, the ISS serves as a unique laboratory for scientific research and experiments in microgravity. It's a collaborative effort involving space agencies from the U.S., Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. Astronauts aboard the ISS conduct studies ranging from biology to physics, providing insights that benefit life on Earth and future space exploration. The ISS also serves as a hub for testing new technologies and international partnerships in space. It's a beacon of human ingenuity and a stepping stone for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 36.5s Reel ·

Video coming soonLook Up, Can You See It? · Instagram Reel
Look Up, Can You See It?: The ISS Orbits About 400 km Above Earth Instagram Reel · · 36.5s

The write-up

The ISS orbits about 400 km above Earth. It is often visible to the naked eye at dawn or dusk.

  1. Exhibit A

    400 km

    The ISS orbits about 400 km up.

  2. Exhibit B

    90 minutes

    It circles Earth every 90 minutes.

  3. Exhibit C

    Since 2000

    It has been crewed since 2000.

  4. Exhibit D

    Five agencies

    Five space agencies run it.

  5. Exhibit E

    Visible

    It can be seen with the naked eye.

Questions people ask about Look Up, Can You See It?

How high does the ISS orbit?

About 250 miles.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (400 km) · Wikipedia: International Space Station

How long is one orbit?

16 sunrises a day.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (90 minutes) · Wikipedia: International Space Station

Since when has it been crewed?

Continuously.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Since 2000) · Wikipedia: International Space Station

Which agency is a partner?

Japan's agency.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Five agencies) · Wikipedia: International Space Station

When is it easiest to see?

Sunlit against a dark sky.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Visible) · Wikipedia: International Space Station

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. How high does the ISS orbit?

    1. About 400 km
    2. About 40 km
    3. About 36,000 km
    4. About 4,000 km
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. About 400 km About 250 miles. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (400 km) · Wikipedia: International Space Station

  2. How long is one orbit?

    1. About 90 minutes
    2. A day
    3. A week
    4. 10 minutes
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. About 90 minutes 16 sunrises a day. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (90 minutes) · Wikipedia: International Space Station

  3. Since when has it been crewed?

    1. 2000
    2. 1998
    3. 1981
    4. 2011
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 2000 Continuously. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Since 2000) · Wikipedia: International Space Station

  4. Which agency is a partner?

    1. JAXA
    2. FIFA
    3. NATO
    4. WHO
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. JAXA Japan's agency. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Five agencies) · Wikipedia: International Space Station

  5. When is it easiest to see?

    1. Around dawn and dusk
    2. At noon
    3. Never
    4. Only in winter
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Around dawn and dusk Sunlit against a dark sky. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Visible) · Wikipedia: International Space Station

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Look Up, Can You See It?." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-258, last updated Jun 25, 2024. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/look-up-can-you-see-it/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/look-up-can-you-see-it/ · Last updated

Markdown version

Cite a single fact by its ID, for example DD-258-F01 → https://detailenjoyer.com/case/look-up-can-you-see-it/#DD-258-F01