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Thursday, May 28, 2015

SPACE CADETS / HAWAII FROM 200 MILES UP




Samantha Cristoforetti, European Space Agency astronaut (@AstroSamantha) photographed the above image of the Island of Hawaii from the International Space Station.

She posted it to social media on Feb. 28, 2015. Cristoforetti wrote, "And suddenly as we flew over the Pacific... the island of #Hawaii with its volcanoes! #HelloEarth"

Crewmembers on the space station photograph the Earth from their unique point of view located 200 miles above the surface as part of the Crew Earth Observations program. Photographs record how the planet is changing over time, from human-caused changes like urban growth and reservoir construction, to natural dynamic events such as hurricanes, floods and volcanic eruptions.

Astronauts have used hand-held cameras to photograph the Earth for more than 40 years, beginning with the Mercury missions in the early 1960s. The ISS maintains an altitude between 220 - 286 miles above the Earth, and an orbital inclination of 51.6˚, providing an excellent stage for observing most populated areas of the world.



Image Credit: NASA/ESA/Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti

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