Orbiting 262 miles above Earth at 17,500 mph, NASA astronaut Anil Menon captured a long-exposure photograph from the International Space Station showing Central Asia’s city lights streaking beneath a glowing green and red aurora. The image, snapped on Sept. 9 and shared by NASA on Oct. 19, highlights both human settlement and orbital hardware, including the station’s solar panels and distant star trails against the blackness of space.
International Space Station Operations in Low-Earth Orbit
The International Space Station has maintained its position in low-Earth orbit for more than 25 years. Operated by a global partnership involving NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency, the orbital laboratory sits roughly 260 miles high. Over 290 astronauts from 26 countries have visited the facility, with 174 hailing from the United States alone.
Current Crew Members Aboard the Orbital Laboratory
Seven astronauts currently live and work aboard the space station. Recent arrivals include NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Russian cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov, who launched on a SpaceX Dragon capsule atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Menon arrived earlier in July aboard a Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft alongside Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina for an eight-month mission.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Space Station Photo
When did astronaut Anil Menon capture the space station photo?
Menon snapped the photograph on Sept. 9, and NASA subsequently published it on Instagram on Oct. 19.
How high is the International Space Station when orbiting Earth?
The orbital laboratory typically orbits at an altitude of about 260 miles, or roughly 422 kilometers, traveling at speeds near 17,500 mph.
Which space agencies operate the International Space Station?
The station is run by a five-agency international partnership consisting of NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency.
How many astronauts have visited the space station?
More than 290 spacefarers from 26 countries have visited the facility, with 174 coming from the United States.
Keep reading