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Most of the time, the International Space Station (ISS) is orbiting the Earth at an altitude of approximately 220 miles (354 km), which places it in low Earth orbit (LEO). This distance can change, however, and has varied from 205 miles (330 km) to a planned maximum of 248 miles (400 km).
What is the distance from the surface of Earth to the International Space Station? Between July 2010 and June 2011, it was kept generally between 212 and 221 miles from the surface. At the beginning of July 2011, it was boosted to its highest orbit yet .â¦.. about 241 miles.