Abstract
Many people mistakenly think that gravity doesn’t exist in space. However, typical orbital altitudes for astronauts vary between 200 and 550 km above Earth’s surface and the gravitational field is still quite strong at these altitudes. In fact, Earth’s gravitational field at about 400 km above the surface is 88.8% of its strength at the surface - it’s the reason why the International Space Station (ISS) is kept in orbit around Earth.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Mullane, M. Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut. Scribner Oanuary 24, 2006).
Mader, T.H.; Gibson, C.R.; Pass, A.F.; Kramer, L.A.; Lee, A.G.; Fogarty, J.; Tarver, W.J.; Dervay, J.P.; Hamilton, D.R.; Sargsyan, A.; Phillips, J.L.; Tran, D.; Lipsky, W.; Choi, J.; Stem, C.; Kuyumjian, R.; Polk, J.D. Optic Disc Edema, Globe Flattening, Choroidal Folds, and Hyperopic Shifts Observed in Astronauts after Long-Duration Space Flight. Ophthalmology, 118 (10), 2058-2069 (2011).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Seedhouse, E. (2013). Microgravity. In: Pulling G. Springer Praxis Books(). Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3030-8_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3030-8_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-3029-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-3030-8
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)