First-Ever Space Station Zero-Prop Maneuver (ZPM)

Real Space Station telemetry was used to drive this animation of the first-ever Zero Propellant Maneuver (ZPM) on Nov 5, 2006. The ZPM rotated the International Space Station 90 deg in 2 hours without using fuel. The audio is from Mission Control Center. More info at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sta...

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  Science & Technology

[juandesant]

Because it takes much longer, and produces extra torque on components that were not designed for it. But being able to do it on a pinch is very worthwhile.

[Bradley Pesicka]

Why wouldn't they want to use this all the time? Getting fuel to the ISS costs money. Doing this when possible allows the money to be used for investigating new science rather than maintenance.

[Pedro Bittencourt]

impressive!