Last week the International Space Station launched the High Definition Earth Viewing experiment. Four HD cameras are fixed to the outside of the space station and pointed at Earth. The point of the experiment is to analyze the effect of radiation on video quality over time, which is super fascinating and has the added benefit of offering a 24/7 reminder of how puny and insignificant we all are. Science!
According to NASA, the stream cycles through each of the four cameras, “such that the HDEV video follows a location on the earth as the ISS passes overhead.”
Every once in a while the feed goes down—they’re broadcasting from SPACE, give them a break—so here are two highlight reels.
Video streaming by Ustream
Video streaming by Ustream
I could watch this all day. Hey, maybe they’ll start selling ads! That could generate some much-needed revenue for the space program.
H/T IFLScience | Image via NASA
