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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