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Category Archives: Space Station

First-Ever HD Live Stream From Space Is Your New Favorite Time Suck

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By Chris Taylor2014-05-07 23:52:39 UTC

As astronauts who've spent time aboard the International Space Station have noted, there is nothing more beautiful than watching 16 sunrises a day.

Now you can see them all from your desk, thanks to four HD cameras NASA has installed aboard the ISS and Ustream, which is transmitting the results live, and for free, to the whole Internet.

The view is such stunning high quality, it's hard to believe this is just an experiment. The cameras are being exposed to the harsh radiation of space so that engineers can figure out how to build better, more radiation-resistant cameras in the future, according to the space agency. Another hard-to-believe fact: These cameras were constructed and are maintained with the help of high school kids across the U.S.

The best part? This NASA note on the feed: "There is no audio on purpose. Add your own soundtrack."

The experimental feed was meant to launch a couple of days ago, but last-minute glitches held it back. It seems to have been worth the wait, however. Just under 7 million viewers have been watching the feed at any one time, a large enough number that we're wondering what kind of impact this glorious view is having on the economy.

The link to the feed has been tweeted more than 11,000 times Wednesday, with some well-known names expressing their delight alongside regular, earthbound Joes:

Image: NASA

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First-Ever HD Live Stream From Space Is Your New Favorite Time Suck

International Space Station live 24-hour HD cameras | EARTH IN HD VIDEO – Video

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International Space Station live 24-hour HD cameras | EARTH IN HD VIDEO
International Space Station LIVE International Space Station LIVE International Space Station LIVE International Space Station LIVE International Space Station LIVE International Space Station...

By: CLIKATV

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International Space Station live 24-hour HD cameras | EARTH IN HD VIDEO - Video

Expedition 40/41 Crew Conducts News Conference and Traditional Ceremonies in Russia’s Red Square – Video

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Expedition 40/41 Crew Conducts News Conference and Traditional Ceremonies in Russia #39;s Red Square
Expedition 40/41 Soyuz Commander Max Suraev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), NASA Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman and Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency...

By: NASA

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Expedition 40/41 Crew Conducts News Conference and Traditional Ceremonies in Russia's Red Square - Video

Live from space: new HD cameras stream images of Earth from ISS – Video

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Live from space: new HD cameras stream images of Earth from ISS
NASA tested out the new High Definition Earth Viewing (HDEV) during an experiment Wednesday morning (May 7) from the International Space Station (ISS). See LIVE images here: http://www.ustream.tv/...

By: euronews (in English)

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Live from space: new HD cameras stream images of Earth from ISS - Video

space station — Encyclopedia Britannica

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space station,an artificial structure placed in orbit and having the pressurized enclosure, power, supplies, and environmental systems necessary to support human habitation for extended periods. Depending on its configuration, a space station can serve as a base for a variety of activities. These include observations of the Sun and other astronomical objects, study of Earths resources and environment, military reconnaissance, and long-term investigations of the behaviour of materials and biological systemsincluding human physiology and biochemistryin a state of weightlessness, or microgravity.

Small space stations are launched fully assembled, but larger stations are sent up in modules and assembled in orbit. To make the most efficient use of its carrier vehicles capacity, a space station is launched vacant, and its crew membersand sometimes additional equipmentfollow in separate vehicles. A space stations operation, therefore, requires a transportation system to ferry crews and hardware and to replenish the propellant, air, water, food, and such other items as are consumed during routine operations. Space stations use large panels of solar cells and banks of storage batteries as their source of electrical power. They also employ geostationary relay satellites for continuous communication with mission controllers on the ground and ... (200 of 4,801 words)

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space station -- Encyclopedia Britannica

Sunpower Cryocoolers Delivered to International Space Station

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ATHENS, OH Two CryoTel CT-F cryocoolers, designed and manufactured by Sunpower Inc., Athens, OH, were delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a SpaceX mission, which docked with the space station on April 20, 2014.The unmanned SpaceX mission, dubbed CRS-3, delivered 5,000 pounds of science experiments, a pair of high-tech legs for Robonaut 2, a high-definition Earth-observing camera suite, a laser communications experiment, spare parts, food, clothing and other supplies.

The Sunpower CryoTel CT-F cryocoolers were incorporated into the General Laboratory Active Cryogenic International Space Station Experiment Refrigerator (GLACIER) from the University of Alabama's (UAB) Birmingham Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering. The cryogenic refrigerator is used aboard the ISS to conduct scientific experiments. The current experiment involves protein crystal growth in zero gravity.

The GLACIER refrigerator was developed to provide cryogenic preservation of samples aboard the ISS and to transport cryogenic samples to and from space station. The refrigerator is able to achieve temperatures from 4oC (39oF) to -185oC (-301oF).

Measuring less than two feet on all sides, the refrigerator fits within the stations mid-deck size constraints and is able to support up to 22 pounds of research samples. The GLACIERs sophisticated telemetry capabilities allow NASAs Huntsville Operations Support Center, the Johnson Space Center in Houston and UAB to continually monitor its status aboard the ISS.

Each of the GLACIERs Sunpower CryoTel CT-F cryocoolers has been qualified for 10 launch missions by UAB without any maintenance or requalification needed, enabling NASA to make many return trips with scientific payloads. UAB has successfully launched 16 CryoTel CT-F units to the ISS to date.

Sunpower's high-reliability cryocoolers are suitable for use anywhere liquid nitrogen is used. They provide cryogenic cooling for such applications as radioisotope detection, materials research, high-temperature superconductivity, cryogenic preservation, laser cooling and medical devices.

Sunpower is a unit within AMETEK Advanced Measurerment Technologies (AMT), which is a division of AMETEK, Inc, a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices with annual sales of $3.6 billion. More information is available at http://www.sunpower.com

Contact: Jimmy Wader (704) 594-2221, ext. 1071 E-mail: jimmy.wade@ametek.com

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Sunpower Cryocoolers Delivered to International Space Station

Watch gorgeous HD video from the space station

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Earth-o-vision! Live-streaming cameras mounted to the International Space Station are now beaming down an impressive video feed to folks back on Earth.

A peek from the side of the ISS. Video screenshot by Amanda Kooser/CNET

I know I'll never get a chance to step a floating foot on the International Space Station, but I can at least tap into the spectacular views with a new live-streaming video offering from NASA. The High Definition Earth Viewing experiment involves cameras mounted outside the station. It is fed to all us earthlings on the Ustream website.

The stream was supposed to be up and running a few days back, but ran into some technical difficulties. That has now been resolved, and the video is pouring in. The images are fascinating, showing a silently rotating marble of blue below, mottled with clouds.

Occasionally, the image goes gray, which just means it's switching between cameras. When the image is black, the ISS is on the night side of Earth. All you have to do is wait a little bit for things to lighten back up. There's no audio because, in space, no one can hear you scream. Just kidding, the no-audio is by design. It's quiet out there in space. NASA suggests you make up your own soundtrack.

Off to the side of the video feed is a box that contains a social stream of sometimes entertaining comments by other viewers. You might see someone opine about feeling like Sandra Bullock or welcoming everyone to the dark side when the screen goes black.

The video experiment isn't just for our viewing pleasure. NASA will be keeping an eye on how the space exposure impacts the equipment to help guide decisions on cameras for future missions. No matter the purpose, it's extremely cool to get a continuous astronaut's-eye view of our humble planet from on high.

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Watch gorgeous HD video from the space station


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