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Space station · NORAD 25544
The International Space Station orbits Earth at about 420 km altitude and 28,000 km/h, completing a full orbit roughly every 90 minutes. It is the largest human-made object in space — about the size of a football field — and has been crewed continuously since November 2000. See its exact position live below.
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Show the ISS on the live 3D globe →Opens the interactive globe and flies the camera to the ISS in real time.
The International Space Station — the largest human-made object in orbit, about the size of a football field, crewed continuously since November 2000 at roughly 420 km altitude and 28,000 km/h. It travels fast enough to circle the entire planet about 16 times a day, giving its crew 16 sunrises and sunsets daily. Because it sits in low Earth orbit it occasionally performs debris-avoidance maneuvers — and after Russia's 2021 Cosmos 1408 ASAT test, the crew had to shelter in their return capsules.
The ISS is one of the brightest objects in the night sky. Look for a steady, non-blinking point of light gliding smoothly across the sky for a few minutes shortly after dusk or before dawn, when the station is sunlit but your sky is dark. Pass-prediction apps and sites give exact times for your location.
Where is the ISS right now?
The ISS is always moving at about 28,000 km/h, completing an orbit roughly every 90 minutes at ~420 km altitude. Open the live tracker above to see its exact current position, propagated in your browser from the latest orbital data.
How do I track the ISS?
Use the live 3D tracker on this page to see the International Space Station's real-time position on a globe, or click the button to lock the camera onto it. You can also spot the ISS with the naked eye when it passes overhead at dawn or dusk.
How fast does the ISS travel?
About 28,000 km/h (7.66 km/s) — fast enough to circle the entire planet roughly every 90 minutes, giving the crew about 16 sunrises and sunsets every day. At that speed it crosses an ocean in minutes.
How high does the ISS orbit?
The ISS orbits at about 420 km altitude, in low Earth orbit. Atmospheric drag slowly lowers it, so it is periodically reboosted by visiting spacecraft. That altitude keeps it below most debris clouds but it still performs occasional avoidance maneuvers.
Can I see the ISS from my backyard?
Yes — the ISS is one of the brightest objects in the night sky. Look for a steady (non-blinking) bright point gliding across the sky for a few minutes at dawn or dusk. Pass-prediction sites give exact times for your location.
See everything in orbit — satellites, rocket bodies and debris →