{"id":786444,"date":"2026-07-07T16:55:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T16:55:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/786444\/"},"modified":"2026-07-07T16:55:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T16:55:17","slug":"astronauts-catch-glimpse-of-fireworks-as-space-station-orbits-over-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/786444\/","title":{"rendered":"Astronauts catch glimpse of fireworks as space station orbits over US"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just because NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station<\/a> are far from home didn’t mean they weren’t able to celebrate the Fourth of July like the rest of the United States.<\/p>\n

In fact, the three Americans living at the iconic orbital outpos<\/a>t were treated to one of the most essential parts of any Independence Day celebration: fireworks. Of course, the light display looked a little different from more than 250 miles above Earth<\/a>.<\/p>\n

NASA releases thousands more Artemis II photos. Here are the best.<\/p>\n

1 of 15<\/p>\n

NASA released thousands of new photos taken during the Artemis II mission around the moon. The astronauts selected for the mission thoroughly documented the 10-day voyage, which included an April 6 lunar flyby as they traveled more than a quarter-million miles from Earth.<\/p>\n

(Provided by NASA)<\/p>\n

Following the holiday weekend, NASA shared a short video showing bursts of fireworks lighting up Los Angeles as the ISS orbited<\/a> July 4 high in space<\/a> above the U.S.<\/p>\n

What is the International Space Station?<\/p>\n

The International Space Station<\/a> has been stationed in low-Earth orbit for more than 25 years, typically about 260 miles high, where it has been home to astronauts from all over the world<\/a>. Throughout its lifespan, the station has served as a test bed<\/a> for scientific research in microgravity and has in years past opened itself up to private commercial missions.<\/p>\n

The orbital laboratory is operated through a global partnership<\/a> of space agencies, including NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.<\/p>\n

More than 280 spacefarers from 26 countries have visited the International Space Station, including 170 from the United States<\/a> alone, according to NASA.<\/p>\n

International Space Station marks 25 years with humans on board. See photos<\/p>\n

1 of 13<\/p>\n

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke inserts a cryogenic storage unit containing research samples into a science freezer for preservation and later analysis on the International Space Station.<\/p>\n

(NASA)See fireworks from ISS as outpost orbits over US<\/p>\n

NASA took to social media<\/a> Monday, July 6, to share <\/a>a video of July 4 fireworks taken above Los Angeles as the space station flew over California.<\/p>\n

“A celebration so bright it reached all the way to space!” NASA remarked on social media.<\/p>\n

In her own social media post<\/a>, NASA astronaut Jessica Meir \u2013 one of three Americans aboard the ISS \u2013 wished a “Happy 250th Birthday to the United States of America.”<\/p>\n

Meir added: “Wishing all a safe and celebratory 4th of July.”<\/p>\n

What astronauts are on the International Space Station?SpaceX Crew-12 mission to send 4 astronauts to space station. Photos<\/p>\n

1 of 9<\/p>\n

The four crew members representing NASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station pose for a portrait at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. From left are, Roscosmos cosmonaut and Mission Specialist Andrey Fedyaev, NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Jessica Meir, Crew-12 Pilot and Commander respectively, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut and Mission Specialist Sophie Adenot.<\/p>\n

(NASA\/James Blair)<\/p>\n

Seven astronauts<\/a> who are part of Expedition 74<\/a> are living and working aboard the International Space Station.<\/p>\n

That includes four people who are part of a joint NASA and SpaceX mission known as Crew-12<\/a> that docked in mid-February. NASA astronauts Jessica Meir<\/a> and Jack Hathaway<\/a>, as well as the European Space Agency’s Sophie Adenot<\/a> and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev are due to depart in September following the arrival of Crew-13<\/a>.<\/p>\n

NASA astronaut Chris Williams<\/a> and Russians Sergey Mikaev and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, who arrived at the end of November<\/a> on a Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft, will also be at the orbital laboratory until their replacements arrive later in July.<\/p>\n

Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@usatodayco.com<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Astronauts catch glimpse of fireworks as space station orbits over US<\/a><\/p>\n