How is it the ISS can travel at 17,400 MPH, but astronauts seem unaffected at all?

220 views

EDIT: Thank you all for your kind yet informative responses!

In: 0

17 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Newton’s law: Objections in motion tend to stay in motion. The ISS is moving at 17,400 MPH, but so are the people inside it. The station isn’t firing its engines.

During launch, the astronauts experience plenty of forces as the rocket blasts off into space and accelerates up to 17,400 MPH. Once they reach that speed though, it’s all calm.

Same idea as on an airplane. Takeoff and climb pins you to your seat, but once you’re cruising everything is (mostly) calm and you can walk around casually even though you’re going around 500 MPH.

You are viewing 1 out of 17 answers, click here to view all answers.