The International Space Station requires two types of propulsion systems for its operation. The first is to
Question:
The International Space Station requires two types of propulsion systems for its operation. The first is to re-boost the station to the correct orbital altitude (to offset the effects of atmospheric and other drag forces) and to maneuver the ISS to avoid collision with other orbiting bodies (i.e., debris). The second is attitude control to position the station in the proper attitude for various experiments, temperature control, re-boost maneuvers, etc. The ISS has been in space since November 1998. It needs frequent re-boosts as the friction in the ultra-thin atmosphere and gravity are dragging the ISS slowly back to Earth. Calculate how much fuel was used when the ISS needed a re-boost during its construction phase. The fuel flow rate of the Progress engines is 0.317 kilograms per second (kg/s). The re-boost changed the orbit of the ISS by applying a delta-V of precisely 23.4996 meters per second (m/s). The station mass (in the current phase) is approximately 204165 kilograms. The combined thrust of the Progress engines that will perform the re-boost is 827.1 Newtons (of force). Your answer must be in kg. Hint: First find the acceleration using F = MA and then take the required delta-V and divide it by the acceleration, in order to get the burn time. Then determine the amount of fuel that this burn time will require.