{"id":514380,"date":"2026-07-07T16:34:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T16:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/514380\/"},"modified":"2026-07-07T16:34:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T16:34:09","slug":"see-fireworks-from-space-as-iss-orbits-over-us-during-july-4th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/514380\/","title":{"rendered":"See fireworks from space as ISS orbits over US during July 4th"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated July 7, 2026, 7:50 a.m. ET<\/p>\n

The space agency shared a video showing fireworks over Los Angeles as seen from the Earth-orbiting outpost.Three American astronauts are currently part of the seven-person crew living on the International Space Station.NASA astronaut Jessica Meir also shared a July Fourth message on social media.<\/p>\n

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

\"\"<\/a><\/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>\u00a0has been stationed\u00a0in low-Earth orbit for more than 25 years, typically about 260 miles high, where it has been\u00a0home 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

USA TODAY Shopping: Shop sales in tech, home, fashion, beauty & more curated by our editors.<\/a><\/p>\n

The orbital laboratory\u00a0is 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,\u00a0including 170 from the United States<\/a>\u00a0alone, according to NASA.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>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?\"\"<\/a><\/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\u00a0Jack Hathaway<\/a>, as well as the European Space Agency’s Sophie Adenot<\/a>\u00a0and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev are due to depart in September following the arrival of Crew-13<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

NASA astronaut Chris Williams<\/a>\u00a0and 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