Spacewatch: International Space Station timings and positions

The ISS (International Space Station), back on morning view, was joined by two unmanned supply vessels in the past week: the Japanese HTV-2 craft on Thursday and a Russian Progress on Saturday. Europe's ATV-2 supply vessel, is due to be launched on the 15th. The Progress's cargo includes a satellite, ARISSat-1, built by amateur radio enthusiasts, which will be used by them after it is "hand-launched" (thrown overboard) into orbit during a spacewalk planned for 16 February. It should operate for about six months before the drag of the atmosphere causes it to decay from orbit. To prevent, or at least delay, the ISS from suffering the same fate, its orbit is boosted from time to time; its next boost is due next Wednesday. Asterisks in our predictions flag the directions in which the ISS emerges from eclipse in the Earth's shadow.