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Just1689 | 5 years ago

Just a question: Would pushing the trash away also push the space station in the opposite direction?

discuss

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aeternum|5 years ago

Yes, but that is part of the point. Atmospheric drag causes the orbit of the ISS to continuously decay (fall deeper into the atmosphere).

The ISS must expend fuel to push its orbit back up periodically. The momentum of the trash would help push the ISS higher.

67868018|5 years ago

yep, equal and opposite reaction. they'd have to counteract it.