In order to understand why some combinations of alkyl halides and nucleophiles give a substitution reaction, whereas other combinations give elimination, and still others give no observable reaction, we must investigate systematically the way in which changes in reaction variables perturb the course of the reaction.
It's true - the ISS moves at about 17,000 mph (~28,000 kph). Now for your other questions: 1. When it's not using its onboard engines to adjust its orbit, the station is in free-fall*. This means that gravitational interaction with the earth maintains the station's orbit, and thus its speed.
How long would it take the space shuttle to go one light-year? The shuttle orbits the Earth at about 5 miles per second (18,000 mph). Light travels at 186,000 miles per second, which is about 37,200 times faster than the shuttle. So the shuttle would need about 37,200 years to go one light-year.