From the vast darkness of space, Nasa astronaut Zena Cardman has shared a breathtaking timelapse that turns the International Space Station (ISS)’s routine flip into a dazzling display of Earth’s natural lights.
Captured during manoeuvres linked to SpaceX’s CRS-33 mission, a commercial resupply mission to the space station, the video speeds up an orbital somersault at 60 times normal pace.
It showcases sunset, lightning storms, airglow, Moon glint, stars, and sunrise in one seamless sweep from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
WHAT MAKES THIS TIMELAPSE SO CAPTIVATING?
Imagine the station slowly rotating like a gymnast in zero gravity, revealing layers of our planet’s atmosphere and surface.
Airglow appears as a faint, greenish band where sunlight-excited molecules in the upper atmosphere release energy, creating a constant ethereal shine.
Moon glint sparkles like silver on ocean waves, reflecting moonlight directly back to the viewer.
Lightning flashes below, stars twinkle above, and the Sun bookends it all.
Cardman calls it one of her favourites, and it is easy to see why: it blends raw science with sheer wonder, reminding us how dynamic space views can be.
WHY DOES THE SPACE STATION FLIP?
The station orbits Earth every 90 minutes at about 28,000 kilometres per hour, but atmospheric drag slowly pulls it lower.
To stay at an altitude of around 402 kilometres, it needs regular reboosts.
SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, docked since August 2025 for the CRS-33 cargo mission, uses special thrusters in its trunk for this.
Before and after each boost, the ISS flips 180 degrees to align properly, flying backwards briefly.
Cardman notes this multi-axis swing saves energy compared to a simple turn. These rare orientation changes gave her crew a front-row seat to the spectacle.
WHO IS ASTRONAUT ZENA CARDMAN?
As commander of Nasa’s Crew-11 mission, Cardman contributed to research during Expeditions 73 and 74 on the station.
A geobiologist by training, she studied life in extreme environments like caves and deep seas before joining Nasa in 2017.
Her Antarctic expeditions honed skills for space, where she now conducts research on everything from human health to advanced materials.
This was her first spaceflight, already clocking over 160 days in orbit.
Views like this highlight why space exploration thrills: it uncovers beauty in the everyday mechanics of survival off-Earth.
Cardman’s post on X invites us all to marvel at our cosmic neighbourhood.
