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ISS astronaut Soichi Noguchi has been sharing lots of amazing pictures he’s taken in space via Twitter, but this one is extra special. Noguchi was able to capture the plasma trail produced by space shuttle Endeavour as it streaked through Earth’s atmosphere. “Space Shuttle Endeavour making S-turn during atmospheric re-entry,” Noguchi wrote on his Twitpic page, where he post his space photos from Twitter, @Astro_Soichi. “The first time it was photographed from Space Station Cupola. Priceless.”
Just think of the precision it took to be able to take this image. Noguchi and the space station were flying about 354 km (220 miles) above Earth, going about 28,163 kph (17,500 mph), and the shuttle was likely flying just under Mach 25 — the speed it is going as it enters Earth’s atmosphere. Priceless indeed!
THAT’S TRICK! Thanks Soichi! Thanks Nancy! for the Cupola ‘baby pictures’!
absolutely breathtaking, and equally as inspiring.
^^ditto