Magnetic Storm Affects Space Station Orbit
Posted on: Friday, 12 November 2004, 15:00 CST
The orbit of the International Space Station will be corrected after a drop of 4.2 miles because of a fierce magnetic storm, Russian media reported Friday.
The magnetic storm registered this week is one of the heaviest in the history of geomagnetic observations. The storm raged for a week before beginning to subside, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.
Earth's atmosphere has become denser, creating more resistance, which has a braking effect on the station. The station, which normally loses about 150 yards per day, has been losing 330 yards a day, said Valeriy Lyndin, the spokesman for Russia's mission control center.
Geomagnetic conditions are expected to be mainly calm beginning Saturday, according to Itar-Tass.
The station descent has not affected the health of the U.S.-Russian crew, Russian cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov and NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao, Lyndin said.
The expedition was launched from the Baykonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan last October. It is expected the crew will spend six months on the station.
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Source: United Press International
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