The first part of the International Space Station launched into orbit was the Russian Zarya module. When it was connected to the U.S. Unity module a few days later, the ISS was born.
Zarya is the Russian word for "dawn" or "sunrise". The name was chosen to signify the dawn of a new age of international space cooperation.
When the ISS passes from the dark side of the Earth to face the "rising" sun, which end faces the sunrise? Has Zarya ever been the end that faces the sunrise first, thus fulfilling its name?
- Exclude the orbits before it became part of the station.
- Consider only the actual station; ignore visiting vehicles (e.g. Soyuz, Shuttle, Progress).
- The current configuration of the station no longer applies to the question, as Zarya is now in the middle of the station, with Zvezda at the end.
