Skip to main content

Microgravity

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Pulling G

Part of the book series: Springer Praxis Books ((POPS))

  • 1398 Accesses

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 29.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 37.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Mullane, M. Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut. Scribner Oanuary 24, 2006).

    Google Scholar 

  2. 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).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints 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)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics