Earth's Terminator | International Space Station

Earth's Terminator | International Space Station

Photograph showing the Earth's terminator. Taken by European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for his Horizons mission.
Astronaut Alexander Gerst: "I know it's just the simple shadow of our planet, but approaching the terminator gives me an eerie feeling every time. It's as scary as it is fascinating."
"Ich weiß, dass es einfach nur der Schatten unseres Planeten ist. Aber dem Terminator entgegen zu fliegen finde ich ebenso unheimlich wie faszinierend. Wie als Kind den Eingang zur Geisterbahn."

The International Space Station orbits 354 kilometers (220 miles) above the Earth, completing one trip around the globe every 92 minutes. Cruising along at 27,700 km (17,200 miles) per hour, the astronauts experience 15 or 16 sunrises and sets every day.

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. The ISS has been the most politically complex space exploration program ever undertaken.

Credit: ESA/NASA-A.Gerst
Image Date: Nov. 23, 2018 

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