Intro
The International Space Station (ISS) coordinate system uses a 3D Cartesian coordinate system, the origin of which is at the center of the mid-ship Integrated Truss Segment (ITS) S0. It uses LVLH (Local Vertical, Local Horizontal) - Earth Pointing reference frame.
LVLH Frame (Earth-Pointing)
LVLH Attitude Reference Frame
- The frame moves with the station as it orbits Earth.
- The X-axis points along the spacecraft velocity vector (direction of travel).
- The Z-axis points toward the center of Earth (nadir direction).
- The Y-axis completes the right-handed coordinate system (orbit normal direction).
