Could Another (small) Satellite Orbit The International Space Station?

Saturday, August 15, 2015 - 00:50 in Astronomy & Space

This is just a fun question someone asked on Quora. It leads into a few interesting topics. First the ISS just isn't heavy enough for a satellite to enter into a true gravitational orbit around it. But, in theory at least, you can put a satellite into a temporary  orbit that looks from the point of view of the ISS as if it is in orbit around it. For a while. It's not kept in place by any gravitational attraction to the ISS, so it is sort of an illusory orbit you could say in a way - but perhaps it is interesting.ORBITING THE ISS BY COINCIDENCE read more

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