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TheLast week, NASA broadcast an ultra-high definition video of the International Space Station, but many people might have a hard time living it as it was filmed. It's not because of space radiation or mysterious holes, but because of something much more earthly.
The video, created in partnership with the European Space Agency, shows the ISS crew performing various scientific experiments, all in an unprecedented 8K format. But the uniqueness of the video is also its disadvantage: most computer monitors, even the biggest desktop monitors, are not big enough to show an 8K video in all its splendor. In other words, the resolution is 7,680 pixels wide by 4,320 pixels, while YouTube's high definition video is 1,920 x 1,080 pixels.
When I watched this 3-minute, 9-second video on YouTube – of course choosing the 8K option -, buffering often made it last six minutes and 36 seconds longer. twice as long. Full-resolution video has an impressive resolution of 3,127 megabytes – although it is included at the beginning of this article in a much smarter resolution of 1920 x 960. This begs the question: Why did NASA and ESA create a video in a format that is inaccessible to most people?
"NASA has been one of the first to adopt advanced technologies to improve its capabilities," said Stephanie Schierholz, spokesperson for NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Directorate. reverse. "We routinely replace and upgrade existing systems, including cameras, and capturing images on new technologies allows us to provide future generations with a clearer picture of our astronauts' work in space." . It's really good to see the important science being conducted by the crew for researchers and scientists on Earth in such high definition! "
NASA wants to have the latest and best equipment. It makes sense. This does not really help, however, to explain why the space agency is trying to block everyone's web browsers with a ridiculously huge video file. For now, here's what we know:
You can always watch a nice version of the video without 8K monitor
"Viewers can view high-resolution images from inside and outside the lab in orbit directly on their computer screen," reads NASA's press release that accompanies the video. "A screen capable of displaying a resolution of 8K is required to achieve the full effect, but the images are taken with higher fidelity and then converted downward, which allows for better playback even for viewers not having an 8K screen. "
So even if you do not have $ 4,000 to blow on a With the 8K monitor, you can still watch videos of astronauts inspecting samples in a freezer, monitoring plant growth, and analyzing blood and saliva samples from crew members, among other space experiments. That does not answer to Why, although. In all appearance, this answer is simple:
NASA has made an 8K video because NASA can do what it wants
Astronauts aboard the ISS filmed this video with the Helium 8K camera from the RED digital cinema camera company. This $ 20,000 camera, which was sent to the ISS aboard the Air SpaceX replenishment mission in April, was filmed in 2K, 4K and 8K. So, if astronauts can shoot a video with four times more pixels than most laptop screens, then why not do it?
NASA celebrates the 18th anniversary of the ISS
Look, NASA does not always need an excuse to show the hard work of the crew of astronauts aboard the ISS, but on Friday, she got some A: As of November 2, astronauts had been living aboard the ISS continuously for 18 years. Since the occupation of the ISS by astronauts, the iPhone was launched for the first time, the United States began to abolish the prohibition of marijuana and, which is perhaps Most important, Rick and Morty created.
Of course, the 8K video may freeze your browser, but it is really pretty. So go ahead and enjoy it, even if you only look at it in 1080. That may be our little secret.
Editor's note: From 17:43 Eastern, 11/5/2018, this story has been updated to include NASA's comments.
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