The International Space Station (ISS) orbits Earth at an average altitude of about 400 kilometers (approximately 250 miles) above the surface
. It travels at a speed of roughly 28,000 kilometers per hour (about 17,500 miles per hour), completing a full orbit around Earth approximately every 92 to 93 minutes
. Because of its orbit, the ISS moves from west to east over the planet, and due to Earth's rotation, it shifts about 2,200 kilometers westward with each orbit
. The station's orbit covers over 90% of the Earth's population, passing over most inhabited areas between about 51.6 degrees north and south latitude
. Real-time tracking tools provided by NASA and ESA show the ISS's current position in terms of latitude and longitude. For example, as of May 19, 2025, the ISS was located near latitude 11.6° S and longitude 154.1° W, at an altitude of about 420 km
. These positions constantly change as the ISS orbits the planet roughly every 1.5 hours. In summary, the ISS is continuously orbiting Earth at about 400 km altitude, moving very fast around the globe, and its exact location can be tracked live through official space agency websites and tracking maps