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Russia to boost ISS after orbit decays faster than usual MOSCOW (AFP) Nov 12, 2004 The orbit of the International Space Stationhas decayed faster than usual recently due to magnetic storms in space and Russia will boost the vessel back to its normal altitude using a cargo ship currently docked to the station, Interfax reported Friday. The ISS, which has a two-man Russian-US crew aboard at present, normally orbits at an altitude of around 400 kilometers (248 miles) but on an average day loses about 150 meters, the report quoted Russian ground control spokesman Valery Lyndin as saying. "In the past few days, the altitude has been declining at a rate of 300 meters a day, which means the orbit has descended seven kilometers (4.3 miles) since the ISS received its last orbit boost, Lydin said. He added however that the operation to boost the ISS orbit by four kilometers had been planned for some time and was being carried out also in order to place the ISS in position for the planned docking of a supply vessel due to carry Christmas presents and other necessities to the crew next month. Lyndin said that over the next six months a series of small adjustments would be made to place the ISS in position to receive arrivals of the US space shuttles, scheduled to begin flying again next spring.
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