ISS is big. Its huge solar arrays measure some 110 by 73 meters. But it's also far away. In the sky, it just looks like a bright star, slowly moving against the background of real stars.
After undocking, the space shuttle Discovery crew got a memorable view of the developing International Space Station (ISS). Pictured orbiting high above Earth last month, numerous solar panels, trusses, and science modules of the ISS were visible. The Discovery crew brought mission specialist Nicole Stott to the ISS, and returned astronaut Timothy Kopra to Earth. Among the many mission and expedition accomplishments of the Discovery crew included delivering and placing the Fluids Integrated Rack and the Materials Science Research Rack in the Destiny module as well as the Minus Eighty Degree Laboratory Freezer in the Kibo module. Better known, however, was the delivery of the COLBERT treadmill for keeping astronauts fit. Over this past week the Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft carrying three more astronauts docked with the ISS as Expedition 21 is set to begin. The next shuttle trip to the ISS is currently scheduled for 2009 November 12.
Submitted by Jaap (not verified) on Sun, 06/28/2009 - 12:36.
Although it looks like a bright star, you might be able to observe certain parts like solar panels, tail of spaceshuttle and the canada remote boom arm by taking a still-image and zoom-in a little bit. You can compare the still-image with online images. Very nice.
Comments
Great ISS Photograph shot by
Great ISS Photograph shot by NASA:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0910/iss_sts128_big.jpg
After undocking, the space shuttle Discovery crew got a memorable view of the developing International Space Station (ISS). Pictured orbiting high above Earth last month, numerous solar panels, trusses, and science modules of the ISS were visible. The Discovery crew brought mission specialist Nicole Stott to the ISS, and returned astronaut Timothy Kopra to Earth. Among the many mission and expedition accomplishments of the Discovery crew included delivering and placing the Fluids Integrated Rack and the Materials Science Research Rack in the Destiny module as well as the Minus Eighty Degree Laboratory Freezer in the Kibo module. Better known, however, was the delivery of the COLBERT treadmill for keeping astronauts fit. Over this past week the Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft carrying three more astronauts docked with the ISS as Expedition 21 is set to begin. The next shuttle trip to the ISS is currently scheduled for 2009 November 12.
Can you see the ISS from NZ ?
Can you see the ISS from NZ ?
I believe I have seen it
I believe I have seen it before but I did not know what I was watching/looking at
Although it looks like a
Although it looks like a bright star, you might be able to observe certain parts like solar panels, tail of spaceshuttle and the canada remote boom arm by taking a still-image and zoom-in a little bit. You can compare the still-image with online images. Very nice.