How to Compare Clocks on the International Space Station

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Nikita Loza-voi says, priority question. As far as I know, a clock on the International Space Station is going about 0.007 seconds behind a synchronized clock on Earth's surface for every six months in orbit. What I don't understand is why it's specifically the clock on ISS that goes slower relative to the one on Earth and not vice versa. But this is a combined feature of both special relativity and general relativity.

Welcome to the April 2023 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by Patreon supporters (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable number — based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the questions themselves are good — and sometimes group them together if they are about a similar topic. Enjoy!

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