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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).
Share to: The International Space Station is maintained in a near circular orbit with a minimum mean altitude of 278 km (173 mi) and a maximum of 460 km (286 mi).Atmospheric drag gradu â¦ ally slows the station down and it moves closer to earth.The station must be periodically re-boosted.   Orbital period     The International Space Station completes 15.79 orbits per day, or about one orbit every 90 minutes.