ISS Live Video – International Space Station (ISS) Broadcasts Live Video Of Earth From Space

Black Image = International Space Station (ISS) is on the night side of the Earth.

Gray Image = Switching between cameras, or communications with the ISS is not available.

No Audio = Normal. There is no audio on purpose. Add your own soundtrack.

ISS Current location

ISS Live Video

No, this ISS live video isn’t CGI for all those out there who believe the world is flat! No, it isn’t filmed in a studio or any other trickery! This is real! These images are beamed live to relay stations all over the planet. They are then piped to your device via NASA and in this case this website. The ISS live video runs 24 hours a day 365 days of the year. Occasionally, the screen will be blank or black. This is due to the onboard cameras being set up for daytime imagery. Therefore, the cameras only operate when there is enough light. If you watch at the right time, you will almost certainly see a sunrise or sunset. They can be breath taking.

Why can’t we see stars in the ISS Live Video? It’s in Space right?

The reason for stars not being visible in the ISS live video is purely down to the light from the earth and sensitivity of the camera. You will notice some time lapse videos created by astronauts who do have stars and night time imagery. This is because they are using handheld DSLR cameras and can adjust the settings accordingly to the light conditions. The ISS live video cannot be adjusted as its outside of the station and is set.

See more after watching the ISS Live Video

You can watch the Space Station pass over your location. All you need to do is know when and how. There are many apps and websites out there and this site currently provides pass times and info for the UK

Info about the ISS Live Video from NASA

The High Definition Earth Viewing (HDEV) experiment aboard the ISS was activated April 30, 2014. It is mounted on the External Payload Facility of the European Space Agency’s Columbus module. This experiment includes several commercial HD video cameras aimed at the earth. These are enclosed in a pressurised and temperature controlled housings. Video from these cameras is transmitted back to earth and also streamed live on this channel. While the experiment is operational, views will typically sequence though the different cameras. Between camera switches, a gray and then black color slate will briefly appear. Since the ISS is in darkness during part of each orbit, the images will be dark at those times. During periods of loss of signal with the ground or when HDEV is not operating, a gray color slate or previously recorded video may be seen.
Analysis of this experiment will be conducted to assess the effects of the space environment on the equipment and video quality. This may help decisions about cameras for future missions. High school students helped with the design of some of the HDEV components. Via the High Schools United with NASA to Create Hardware (HUNCH) program. Student teams will also help operate the experiment. To learn more about the HDEV experiment, visit here: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/917.html – Credit NASA

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11 Comments

José Sidenei de Melo on November 29, 2016 at 8:51 pm

É realmente uma visão fascinante. Mas sinto que o ISS não possa estar numa altitude maior, então veríamos nosso Planeta em todo seu esplendor.
However, truly amazing anyway.

Diana Sprain on November 28, 2016 at 2:43 am

I love this site. The view of our planet is amazing

Yousra on December 23, 2015 at 9:38 am

this is Such an amazing experience, I’m truly grateful that I live in this beautiful blue planet.
the best moment is when the ISS is emerging from the dark side of the earth to the bright side or when the moon is showing in the horizon.

David Brawls on December 23, 2015 at 12:18 am

Why can’t we see city lights when it passes over at night?

Liam Kennedy on November 25, 2016 at 9:33 pm

David Brawls asks “Why can’t we see city lights when it passes over at night?”

The video camera’s used for these views are not capable of capturing city lights (or aurora or lightening storms) because they are capturing 30 fps using standard off-the-shelf commercial cameras. All the “city lights” videos you see online from the ISS are created from combining 1000’s of “long-exposure” still frames (each frame is typically exposed for 0.5 to 1.5 seconds.

Hopefully one day a new camera system will be launched that CAN capture live night time views – but for now – it’s not possible.
Reply

Angus Dorbie on December 18, 2015 at 6:44 pm

Marred by compression artifacts manifesting as vertical streaks and gaps as clouds roll towards camera.

Tery on October 8, 2014 at 11:57 pm

It is truly a beautiful planet, one views it from space, the size and magnificence of this blue ball we all live on, spinning around our sun, is an incredible reality to be in, while we are alive in the now.

Terry Coleman on July 17, 2014 at 2:44 pm

It`s only when you watch for a while that you realise just how much of this planet is covered by water !

paul on May 25, 2014 at 7:11 pm

awesome… to think 111 years since the first powered flight. what will another 111 years bring?

Dorothy on May 15, 2014 at 10:09 am

What a great opportunity this is.

gina on May 7, 2014 at 10:52 pm

Thats just amazing. I am just fasinated with space moon and stars

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

José Sidenei de Melo on November 29, 2016 at 8:51 pm

É realmente uma visão fascinante. Mas sinto que o ISS não possa estar numa altitude maior, então veríamos nosso Planeta em todo seu esplendor.
However, truly amazing anyway.
Diana Sprain on November 28, 2016 at 2:43 am

I love this site. The view of our planet is amazing
Yousra on December 23, 2015 at 9:38 am

this is Such an amazing experience, I’m truly grateful that I live in this beautiful blue planet.
the best moment is when the ISS is emerging from the dark side of the earth to the bright side or when the moon is showing in the horizon.
David Brawls on December 23, 2015 at 12:18 am

Why can’t we see city lights when it passes over at night?
- Liam Kennedy on November 25, 2016 at 9:33 pm
  
  David Brawls asks “Why can’t we see city lights when it passes over at night?”
  
  The video camera’s used for these views are not capable of capturing city lights (or aurora or lightening storms) because they are capturing 30 fps using standard off-the-shelf commercial cameras. All the “city lights” videos you see online from the ISS are created from combining 1000’s of “long-exposure” still frames (each frame is typically exposed for 0.5 to 1.5 seconds.
  
  Hopefully one day a new camera system will be launched that CAN capture live night time views – but for now – it’s not possible.
Angus Dorbie on December 18, 2015 at 6:44 pm

Marred by compression artifacts manifesting as vertical streaks and gaps as clouds roll towards camera.
Tery on October 8, 2014 at 11:57 pm

It is truly a beautiful planet, one views it from space, the size and magnificence of this blue ball we all live on, spinning around our sun, is an incredible reality to be in, while we are alive in the now.
Terry Coleman on July 17, 2014 at 2:44 pm

It`s only when you watch for a while that you realise just how much of this planet is covered by water !
paul on May 25, 2014 at 7:11 pm

awesome… to think 111 years since the first powered flight. what will another 111 years bring?
Dorothy on May 15, 2014 at 10:09 am

What a great opportunity this is.
gina on May 7, 2014 at 10:52 pm

Thats just amazing. I am just fasinated with space moon and stars

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ISS Live Video of Earth from Space