The Planetary Society
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How to spot the ISS | The Planetary Society
June 14, 2024 - The International Space Station is humanity’s shared space laboratory in low-Earth orbit. Since 2000, hundreds of astronauts from countries around the world have rotated in and out of the station to conduct science experiments and test space technology. The ISS is also a famous symbol of international collaboration, operating thanks to the cooperation of 15 different nations.
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › International_Space_Station
International Space Station - Wikipedia
4 hours ago - The International Space Station (ISS) is a large space station that was assembled and is maintained in low Earth orbit by a collaboration of five space agencies and their contractors: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada).
In the News
How much of the Earth's surface is visible from the ISS at any point?
You would have to be infinitely far away from a sphere in order to see exactly 50% of its surface all at the same moment. Using simple geometry, you can prove that an observer that is a distance d away from the surface of a sphere with radius R can only see a percent area A of the sphere's surface as given by the equation: A = 50%/(1+R/d) The Earth has a radius of about R = 6371 km and the ISS is currently (as of Jan. 23, 2015) at an altitude of about d = 406 km. Plugging in these numbers we get: A = 3% Therefore, at any given instant today, the ISS can only see 3% of the surface of the Earth because it is so close to the Earth. But since the ISS is constantly moving, over the course of a day, it can see a lot more of the Earth. This has important implications for satellite networks. If you want to build a satellite network with 100% instantaneous global coverage (it can see all part of Earth at one instant), you have to use more than two satellites since they are not infinitely far away. More on reddit.com
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December 23, 2014Flight into Darkness — Observe the International Space Station in Earth's Shadow
This was the comment I left on the article (you may need to login to Sky&Tel to see it).
"Great article - and I love everything you shared about your direct observations of the ISS while it was in orbital eclipse. One idea on the cause of the illumination could be external lights on the ISS. During external ops (e.g. canadarm operations) external lights are used to allow those operations to continue even during orbital eclipse. You can occasionally see these lights on the ISS Live feed during these kinds of operations. My own payload was installed via Canadarm over the weekend - and I was watching that happening on the live feeds. Lights were illuminating the station at times."
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August 1, 2023Can someone explain why it is more interesting to destroy the ISS than to maintain it given all the energy spent to build it
Repurposing it how? The reason they are destroying it is because it is breaking down and will eventually not be safe for anything. More on reddit.com
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June 29, 2024NASA confirms space station cracking a “highest” risk and consequence problem
The ISS would be easier to let go of if there was a solid replacement plan already in motion, by which I mean large scale module construction and testing already in progress, launch schedules firming up, static ground testing of docking systems for Starship and other crewed vehicles, the works. When Atlantis went to Mir in 1996, my recollection of that mission was that it was essentially a test flight to see if the shuttle could be the workhorse for construction of the ISS. I could well be wrong, of course, but that’s how I see it. The first ISS module went up in 1999, and Mir was de-orbited in 2000 iirc. The ISS has been an incredible platform for science, and it will be very sad days when 1.) it is left by astronauts for the last time and 2.) when it is de-orbited. It would be absolutely wonderful to de-construct it and return it to earth for preservation as well as materials analysis, but considering how much money the next station will cost, investing in that for the ISS isn’t money well spent. More on reddit.com
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September 28, 2024Space.com
space.com › space exploration › missions › international space station
Track the ISS — How and where to see it | Space
June 27, 2024 - The International Space Station (ISS) is a multi-nation laboratory, orbiting 248 miles (400 kilometers) above our heads. It perhaps comes as no surprise that it's easy to see and track the ISS from Earth.
Videos
15:52
Tour the International Space Station: 25 Years of Humans in Space ...
22:44
Astronauts return to Earth after first ever medical evacuation ...
Live Video from the International Space Station (Official NASA ...
01:01
Spot the International Space Station - YouTube
🔴 Live Now: 24/7 NASA Live Stream of Earth from Space (ISS) ...
Facebook
facebook.com › ISS
International Space Station
International Space Station. 4,604,577 likes · 7,345 talking about this. The International Space Station is a collaboration of 15 nations working together to create a world-
ESA
esa.int › Science_Exploration › Human_and_Robotic_Exploration › International_Space_Station › Where_is_the_International_Space_Station
ESA - Where is the International Space Station?
3 weeks ago - Due to the Station's orbit it appears to travel from west to east over our planet, and due to Earth's own rotation the Space Station's moves 2200 km to the west on each orbit. You can see the International Space Station with your own eyes from ...
Canadian Space Agency
asc-csa.gc.ca › eng › multimedia › search › image › 17245
Distances between Earth and the International Space Station, the Moon and Mars - infographic - Canadian Space Agency
The ISS orbits 400 km from Earth; the Moon is 384,400 km from Earth and communications take 2,5 seconds; Mars is between 55,7 million to 401,3 million kilometres from Earth and communications between both planets take from 6 to 44 minutes.
NASA
nasa.gov › international-space-station › space-station-facts-and-figures
International Space Station Facts and Figures - NASA
July 16, 2024 - An international partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries operates the International Space Station. Learn more about visitors to the space station by country. The space station has been continuously occupied since November 2000. An international crew of seven people live and work while traveling at a speed of five miles per second, orbiting Earth ...
Google Arts & Culture
artsandculture.google.com › story › amazing-earth-images-from-the-international-space-station-nasa › 1wWx-tSpYgPhKg
Amazing Earth Images from the International Space Station — Google Arts & Culture
Earth Day 2017 - 4K Earth Views From Space (2017-04-22) by Space Station CrewNASA · And, in honor of Earth Day 2017, enjoy more ultra-high definition views of our home planet captured from 250 miles up on the International Space Station.
NASA
nasa.gov › spot-the-station
Spot The Station - NASA
The International Space Station is a convergence of science, technology, and human innovation that enables research not possible on Earth for the benefit of humanity. For over 25 years, NASA has supported a continuous U.S. human presence aboard the station, through which astronauts have learned to live and work in space for extended periods of time.
Published July 15, 2025
ISS Live Now
isslivenow.com
ISS Live Now - NASA Space Station
Never miss a historic moment in space exploration. ... See one of the brightest objects in the night sky! Get notifications when the ISS will be visible from your location. ... Visualize the ISS orbit in real-time on a stunning 3D Earth globe. Watch as the station travels around our planet. ... Take an immersive virtual tour inside the International Space Station.
WHOI
www2.whoi.edu › site › seafloortospacestation › international-space-station
International Space Station – From the Seafloor to the Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) is a working laboratory that orbits 386 kilometers (240 miles) above the Earth, and since 2000 it has been a home for a rotating, international crew of three astronauts.
European Space Agency
esa.int › ESA_Multimedia › Videos › 2021 › 04 › Earth_views_from_space_1_hour_long_in_4K
ESA - Earth views from space – 1 hour long in 4K!
This compilation was made from ... Cristoforetti's Futura mission and Paolo Nespoli's Vita mission. Flying 400 km above our amazing planet Earth, the Space Station travels at 28 800 km/h to stay in orbit....
BBC
bbc.com › future › article › 20251223-25-years-of-the-international-space-station-in-numbers
All you need to know about the International Space Station's 25 years in orbit
3 weeks ago - Read its fascinating history, told in 25 numbers. Orbiting some 400km (250 miles) above the Earth, the International Space Station (ISS) represents one of mankind's most ambitious engineering projects.
International Space Station National Laboratory
issnationallab.org › home › research and science › space research overview › research areas › technology development & manufacturing › earth observation
Earth Observation - ISS National Lab
June 19, 2025 - The ISSInternational Space Station provides a unique vantage point for Earth observation. The ISS is in low Earth orbit(Abbreviation: LEO) The orbit around the Earth that extends up to an altitude of 2,000 km (1,200 miles) from Earth’s surface.
NASA
nasa.gov › international-space-station
International Space Station - NASA
4 weeks ago - The International Space Station is humanity’s home in space and a research station orbiting about 250 miles above the Earth.
AstroViewer
astroviewer.net › iss › en
Current position of the ISS
Where is the International Space Station right now? This is the view from the ISS directly down to earth. The crosshair indicates the current ground point. The map is updated every second. Please note that the map is not real-time video.
International Space Station National Laboratory
issnationallab.org › home
International Space Station National Laboratory
January 21, 2024 - Low Earth orbit(Abbreviation: LEO) The orbit around the Earth that extends up to an altitude of 2,000 km (1,200 miles) from Earth’s surface. The International Space Station’s orbit is in LEO, at an altitude of approximately 250 miles.
NASA
eol.jsc.nasa.gov › esrs › hdev
ISS High Definition Live Streaming Video of the Earth (HDEV)
Currently, live video of Earth is streaming from an external HD camera mounted on the ISS.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/askscience › how much of the earth's surface is visible from the iss at any point?
r/askscience on Reddit: How much of the Earth's surface is visible from the ISS at any point?
December 23, 2014 -
Obviously it can be a maximum of 50% of the surface, but you'd need to be a certain distance away before that were possible, right? Is the ISS far enough away from Earth to see a full 50% of the globe (assuming parts of the station/its walls aren't in obscuring the view), or is it less? If so, how much can it see?
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You would have to be infinitely far away from a sphere in order to see exactly 50% of its surface all at the same moment. Using simple geometry, you can prove that an observer that is a distance d away from the surface of a sphere with radius R can only see a percent area A of the sphere's surface as given by the equation: A = 50%/(1+R/d) The Earth has a radius of about R = 6371 km and the ISS is currently (as of Jan. 23, 2015) at an altitude of about d = 406 km. Plugging in these numbers we get: A = 3% Therefore, at any given instant today, the ISS can only see 3% of the surface of the Earth because it is so close to the Earth. But since the ISS is constantly moving, over the course of a day, it can see a lot more of the Earth. This has important implications for satellite networks. If you want to build a satellite network with 100% instantaneous global coverage (it can see all part of Earth at one instant), you have to use more than two satellites since they are not infinitely far away.
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Check this out: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/live-iss-stream