NASA Launches International Space Station Webcam Streaming Video
HOUSTON -- Internet visitors can now see the Earth as never
before -- live from the International Space Station via
streaming video, seven days a week. The streaming video views of
Earth and the exterior structure of the station are from cameras
mounted outside the laboratory complex, orbiting Earth at 17,500
miles an hour at an altitude of 220 miles. The video is
transmitted to the ground -- and Web viewers -- primarily while
the astronauts aboard the complex are asleep, usually from about
1 p.m. to 1 a.m. CST. When live feeds are not available, a map
showing the current location and path of the station will be
streamed from NASA's Mission Control in Houston. The streaming
video will include audio of communications between Mission
Control and the astronauts, when available. When the space
shuttle is docked to the station, the stream will include video
and audio of those activities. The International Space Station,
a unique partnership between the space agencies of the United
States, Russia, Japan, Canada and Europe. Construction began in
1998 and will be completed in 2010. Eighteen crews have lived
aboard the orbiting complex since 2000, including the current
crew of three. Station residents have conducted important
scientific experiments and gathered data to help assist future
missions to the moon and Mars. |