{"id":291333,"date":"2026-02-19T08:19:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T08:19:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/291333\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T08:19:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T08:19:14","slug":"iss-astronaut-captures-timelapse-of-earth-as-space-station-does-a-cartwheel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/291333\/","title":{"rendered":"ISS Astronaut Captures Timelapse of Earth as Space Station Does a Cartwheel"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ThreeThe ISS cartwheeled to position itself for a cargo resupply. <\/p>\n

A NASA astronaut has shared a timelapse video taken during a rare \u201corbital cartwheel\u201d when the International Space Station (ISS) changed its orientation and altitude to accommodate the SpaceX CRS-33 cargo resupply mission. <\/p>\n

Zena Cardman returned from space after a five-month mission on the ISS last month and yesterday she shared a \u201cfavorite\u201d timelapse captured during the Crew-11 expedition. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe International Space Station rarely makes big changes to its orientation,\u201d Cardman writes on X. \u201cBut we were lucky to experience such maneuvers (flipping around to fly butt-first, then flipping back again) before and after each SpaceX CRS-33 reboost.\u201d <\/p>\n

The @Space_Station<\/a> rarely makes big changes to its orientation, but we were lucky to experience such maneuvers (flipping around to fly butt-first, then flipping back again) before and after each @spacex<\/a> CRS-33 reboost. This 60x speed timelapse was one of my favorites since it\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/7IsZnb1G7G<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Zena Cardman (@zenanaut) February 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The 60x speed timelapse was captured on a Nikon Z9<\/a>. Cardman explains that it was \u201clots of trial and error\u201d, but the Z9 cameras make it simpler to capture day-to-night-to-day transitions. ISS astronauts living on the ISS experience 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets in a 24-hour period.<\/p>\n

\u201cFull auto with highlight weighted metering and tweaks to minimum shutter speed and max ISO,\u201d Cardman says of her settings. \u201cThis was one of my favorites since it captures a little of everything \u2014 sunset, lightning storms, air glow, moon glint, stars, and sunrise \u2014 as we did one (actually very slow) orbital cartwheel from Atlantic to Pacific.\u201d <\/p>\n

While it looks like an intense ride, Cardman says it\u2019s not at all. \u201cThis reorientation maneuver is imperceptible for those on board,\u201d she explains. \u201c60x speed makes it look a lot spicier. You can feel acceleration from the reboost itself, but it\u2019s subtle.\u201d <\/p>\n

She also notes that a multi-axis swing like this one is \u201cenergetically lower than just yawing the ship 180 degrees\u201d. <\/p>\n

Ad astra et ad terram. Back on Earth one month already, and reflecting on my time in orbit. @iss<\/a> is the ultimate exercise in teamwork and human adaptability. I\u2019m so grateful to have been part of this ongoing mission, and proud of @Astro_ChrisW<\/a>, Sergei, Sergei, and ground teams\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/sBbmzvuobR<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Zena Cardman (@zenanaut) February 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

During the Crew-11 mission, Cardman captured incredible video of colorful aurora lights<\/a> dancing above the Earth\u2019s surface. <\/p>\n