Eli5: Why does the ISS require thrusting to maintain orbit, while the moon has been orbiting the earth for a long time without any problems.

Question

Eli5: Why does the ISS require thrusting to maintain orbit, while the moon has been orbiting the earth for a long time without any problems.

In: Physics

Answer 1

Just to add, the moon’s orbit is also one that is slowly moving away from the earth. In a few millennia the moon will be far enough so that eclipses will never happen again. The ISS on the other hand is on an orbit that will eventually have it fall back to earth unless it is stabilized.