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As some of you may remember, four years ago, NASA launched a very cool experiment in the area called High Definition Earth Viewing (HDDE).
The project was conceived as a two-year Earth observation study that continuously broadcasted views of our planet from the perspective of the International Space Station (ISS) – and it still continues today, constantly broadcasting spectacular images of our planet that you can watch. online.
The HDEV initiative uses four HD cameras, enclosed in a pressure-controlled, temperature-controlled, mounted on the ISS. The four cameras are installed outside the Columbus module – a scientific laboratory manufactured by the European Space Agency for the space station.
From their starting point, 250 miles above the surface of our planet, the cameras record breathtaking views of the Earth, just great – in the most literal sense of the word.
As NASA explained in 2014, during the launch of HDEV, the project was designed to "stream the first continuous high definition video continuously from the space station."
The big advantage of HDEV is that it "allows anyone with an internet connection to see our world from above," said space agency officials.
To see what Earth looks like in orbit, follow the HDEV feed below – courtesy of NASA – or visit the website of the Earth Sciences and Remote Sensing Unit (ESRS).
Each of the four cameras that move the project forward is oriented in a different direction, to ensure that HDEV captures multiple viewing angles of our planet. Specifically, one camera is always pointing forward, another is constantly looking straight down, while the other two are facing the back.
If you come across a black image, do not worry; it only means that the space station is positioned on the night side of the Earth. At the same time, a gray slate appears from time to time on the screen when the system switches from one camera to the other.
"The cameras are programmed to switch from one camera to another, and only one camera can work at a time. Each time they turn, each camera should turn off and the next camera should light up before the start of HD video, which takes about 8 to 10 seconds, "says the ESRS.
View of the HDEV equipment installed on the ISS Columbus module.
NASA
"While the HDEV collects great images of the Earth since the ISS, the main purpose of the experiment is a technical goal: to monitor the rate of degradation of the quality of the image. an HD video camera when it is exposed to the space environment (mainly by cosmic rays), "emphasizes the ESRS.
The main goal of this project is to help researchers determine what type of camera can best withstand the harsh conditions of space, so that they know which one to choose for future missions, NASA said.
To do this, HDEV is equipped with four different types of cameras, each demonstrating a different type of technology. Every week, images from each camera are analyzed to assess the level of deterioration, so that the project team can determine which technology works best in the space.
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