- #1
LydiaJ
- 15
- 5
I was watching the following video, and I have a question about something they said that seemed kind of vague (I know I could have asked in the video comments section, but this forum tends to supply much better answers, so I hope it's OK that I am asking about a YouTube video here):
If you don't want to watch the video I'll here's the part I don't get: They say that when a capsule docks with the ISS they fly the capsule into the same orbit as the ISS, but in front of it (that is, moving at the same velocity, and in the same direction the ISS is orbiting). Once the capsule is lined up with the ISS in the same orbit, they slow down to let the ISS catch up with them, and then they steer the capsule to where it needs to go right at the end.
My question is, wouldn't slowing down the capsule cause it to drop into a lower orbit (in which case the ISS would just fly past them)?
If you don't want to watch the video I'll here's the part I don't get: They say that when a capsule docks with the ISS they fly the capsule into the same orbit as the ISS, but in front of it (that is, moving at the same velocity, and in the same direction the ISS is orbiting). Once the capsule is lined up with the ISS in the same orbit, they slow down to let the ISS catch up with them, and then they steer the capsule to where it needs to go right at the end.
My question is, wouldn't slowing down the capsule cause it to drop into a lower orbit (in which case the ISS would just fly past them)?