Hello, gorgeous! “Spectacular” views from ISS Cupola

Science
Hello, gorgeous! “Spectacular” views from ISS Cupola
cupola_view.jpg

Image courtesy of NASA

Last night’s third and final spacewalk for the STS-130 crew resulted in the opening of the Cupola’s seven shutters, revealing what Station commander, Jeff Williams, called “spectacular” views of the earth below. The seven-window Cupola offers 360 degree views of Earth as well as the outside of the station, giving crew members the most wide-eyed look from a spacecraft ever known. Die-hard space geeks watched live footage of spacewalkers, Bob Behnken and Nicholas Patrick, floating around on the outside of the station while the Cupola shutters were slowly opened, but had to wait for views from inside the Cupola to be beamed back to Earth (none of the live-feed ISS cameras can reach inside the Cupola). The wait was well worth it.

MZ_Rachel-InSpace_Badge.gifThe new bay window view of the Earth will likely be a hot topic at today’s NASA Tweetup at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. I’ll be along for the ride, tweeting and sending pictures, as participants get a special behind-the-scenes tour of some of JSC’s hot spots and have opportunity to chat with several astronauts.

14 thoughts on “Hello, gorgeous! “Spectacular” views from ISS Cupola

  1. Nate says:

    …or Palpatine’s Throne Room on the second Death Star?

    Just what exactly are they building up there?

  2. DanYHKim says:

    I thought it looked closer to the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon.

    1. DanYHKim says:

      I give up. You’re quite right.
      It breaks my heart, though.
      Cue the Imperial March:

      Daa Daa Daaaaah ~ Da De Da ~ Da De Daaaah!

  3. Exhibit69 says:

    Form follows function? Or perhaps this is more evidence that the USA is the evil empire?

  4. Alan says:

    Could one of the astronauts PLEASE dress up as Dr. Evil and pose in there, pinky raised to mouth?

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Rachel Hobson is a writer, editor and social media enthusiast with a background in the DIY/Maker and science/geek communities. She's also a life-long space geek, and enjoys living five minutes from Houston's Johnson Space Center where she can get her fill of rockets any time she pleases. Her hobbies include hand embroidery, modern quilting and all things Lego.

View more articles by Rachel Hobson

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