The International Space Station is orbiting at an altitude o…
The International Space Station is orbiting at an altitude of about 370 km above the earth’s surface. The mass of the earth is 5.97 × 1024 kg, the radius of the earth is 6.38 × 106 m, and G = 6.67 × 10-11 N ∙ m2/kg2. Assume the orbit is circular. (a) What is the period of the International Space Station’s orbit? (b) What is the speed of the International Space Station in its orbit? (c) The ISS has a mass of approximately 4.45 × 105 kg. Calculate the total mechanical energy of the ISS in its orbit.