International Space Station Time-Lapse: Flying Over The Earth (VIDEO)

You’ll probably never get to visit the International Space Station, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the view it affords. YouTube user “yesterday2221″ compiled this stunning time-lapse simply using images taken from the ISS that are available online. All the images used in the video were found here, at NASA’s “Gateway to Astronaut Photography Of Earth.” The breathtaking views largely cover North America, though the shots begin in the Pacific Ocean and move over Antarctica. The video has quickly gone viral, gaining almost a million views since it was posted on September 15. As the view pans through you can see everything from thunderous storms to sprawling cities. Towards the end of the film you can see the unmistakable South American coastline of Chile and Peru becomes visible, just before the sun takes over. Throughout the time-lapse you can also catch the Earth’s ionosphere which seems to sit as a static yellow line about the planet. The ISS gives a particularly unique view above the Earth that is ideal for looking at things in a new way. The astronauts aboard the space station have captured some amazing images, including a stunning view of the India-Pakistan Border, an overhead shot of New York on 9/11, a scary look at Hurricane Irene and much more. However, the station’s days are numbered. The AP recently reported that the Russians plan to sink the ISS as soon as 2020 in order to keep it from becoming a dangerous piece of space junk. When it is no longer needed, the ISS will meet its end in a controlled descent into the Pacific Ocean. WATCH:

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International Space Station Time-Lapse: Flying Over The Earth (VIDEO)

Posted by on September 21, 2011. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.