ISS Key Statistics

Altitude (Orbit Height): Approximately 370–460 km (230–286 miles) above Earth's surface.
Orbital Speed: Approximately 28,000 km/h (17,500 mph), completing an orbit around Earth every ~93 minutes. Wikipedia
Orbital Inclination: 51.6° to Earth's equator. Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+1
Orbital Period: Approximately 92.9 minutes per orbit. Wikipedia
Mass: Approximately 450,000 kg (450 metric tons).
Dimensions: Length: ~73 m; Width (including solar arrays): ~109 m. Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+1
Pressurized Volume: Approximately 916 m³. Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+1
Habitable Volume: Approximately 388 m³. Wikipedia
Solar Array Surface Area: Approximately 4,500 m².
Power Generation: Approximately 100 kilowatts from solar arrays. Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+1
Atmospheric Pressure: Maintained at 1 atm (101.3 kPa), similar to Earth's sea level. Wikipedia
Crew Capacity: Typically 6 astronauts; can accommodate up to 7.
Launch Date: First module (Zarya) launched on 20 November 1998. Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+1
Continuous Occupation Since: 2 November 2000. Wikipedia
Estimated Cost: Over $150 billion USD, making it the most expensive object ever built. Wikipedia

Location: The ISS orbits within the thermosphere layer of Earth's atmosphere.Wikipedia
Temperature Range: Can vary widely, typically from 500°C to 2,000°C (932°F to 3,632°F), depending on solar activity.
Atmospheric Density: Extremely low; particles are sparse, but high-energy solar radiation can cause significant heating.
Radiation Exposure: Increased levels of cosmic radiation and solar particles compared to Earth's surface.
Atmospheric Drag: Despite low density, residual atmospheric particles exert drag on the ISS, causing orbital decay.
Orbital Maintenance: The ISS requires periodic reboosts to maintain its orbit, counteracting atmospheric drag.

ISS Claims vs Reality Checks

Claim (Mainstream)	Reality Check
Altitude: 370–460 km — in the thermosphere	Ambient temps 500°C–2,000°C — above aluminium’s 660°C melting point; would soften or fail without mythical shielding.
Construction materials: Aluminium alloys, stainless steel, titanium	Aluminium: ~660°C melt, stainless: ~1,370–1,530°C, titanium: ~1,670°C. Even “low” thermosphere temps risk structural failure over time.
Orbital Speed: ~28,000 km/h	Continuous friction heating in thin atmosphere — re-entry craft glow white-hot after minutes; ISS allegedly survives decades.
Atmospheric Pressure (inside): 1 atm	Constant high pressure differential against vacuum, large flat panels, micrometeoroid risk — yet zero catastrophic breaches in 20+ years.
Atmospheric Drag: Requires periodic “reboosts”	Drag means friction, friction means heat — on top of thermosphere temps, doubling the thermal stress.
Radiation Exposure: Elevated cosmic/solar radiation	Thin walls offer little shielding; astronauts supposedly spend months without lethal doses or chronic illness.
Continuous Occupation: Since Nov 2000	Over two decades in claimed extreme environment without major structural overhaul — statistically improbable.
Age Factor: 25+ years old	A car of similar age in a far gentler environment would be scrapped; here we’re told it’s “as good as new” while enduring far harsher conditions.