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Mavic 2 on the INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ???

  • No GNSS (satellite signals).
  • No magnetometer (compass).
  • No accelerometer to keep it level because no gravity.
  • Barometer would work sorta, because the ISS is pressurized. But it would not register increases in altitude because the barometric pressure would not decrease with altitude (as it does on Earth, due to the gravitational field).

I'd be surprised if it would even take off, but if it did it would likely flip upside and basically tumble all over the place. It would not stay level because accelerometer would not be working. At a minimum, wear a helmet when you try this :)
and above the 400' FAA limit
 
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and above the 400' FAA limit

The drone would always read 0' above ground. It would never detect an increase in altitude because the barometric pressure wouldn't change in a pressurized space.

One thing's for sure, you'd get remarkable battery life without the need to fight gravity.
 
It would float in position, any position, any angle. When the props start they would pull air in and then eject it at a higher speed so I think it would move in any direction but at right angles to the props rotation. To stop you would have to reverse the prop rotation as once moving it would carry on moving (or accelerating if the props carry on spinning) in the same direction until another force stops it (Newton again). So practically speaking it would crash into the walls. What do you think of that?!
 
Agree. No external force like gravity to counter the constant prop thrust.

If they rubber band the AC to a surface, that would sub for the gravity force.
 
Only during the periods the ISS is over the US. Thats what, 10 minutes?
At 254 miles up, the IIS would be out of the jurisdiction of the FAA.
 
I was really kidding about the short time being directly over the US.

But seriously, how high up does our airspace end? Seems like the same question as with private property but at a grander scale.
 
I was really kidding about the short time being directly over the US.

But seriously, how high up does our airspace end? Seems like the same question as with private property but at a grander scale.
The common definition used by many organizations is the Kármán Line, an arbitrary boundary set at 100 KM (62 miles). US Military and NASA set the boundary at 50 miles.
 
along with all the other comments - how can it connect to the satellites as it is moving at the same speed as the ISS? or what would happen if it could connect? outside its intended design?
 
Civilian GPS devices must disable themselves above 18000m alt, so it would just not get any lock.
 
It's the COCOM Limits. Civilian GPS devices are supposed to stop working when they reach a speed of 1900 km/h and 18,000 m. This was designed to prevent the use of civilian grade GPS technology in intercontinental ballistic missiles or similar technology. Both speed and altitude are supposed to be met before the devices stop working, but many devices treat it as an "OR" choice.
 
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