Private astronaut Marcus Wandt has shared an extraordinary video footage from his time on the International Space Station (ISS), capturing a stunning thunderstorm in all its fury. The video, posted on Twitter, shows numerous flashes of lightning amidst clouds, a breathtaking sight that is both awe-inspiring and humbling. Wandt, a member of the Axiom-3 crew, was working on the Thor-Davis experiment at the time, which involves testing a new camera concept in space to study thunderclouds and lightning in the upper atmosphere.
Wandt’s video footage is a testament to the power and beauty of thunderstorms, even from the unique vantage point of space. The ISS orbits the Earth at an altitude of around 250 miles, offering an unparalleled view of the planet’s weather patterns. As Wandt notes, thunderstorms are “powerful and beautiful phenomena to witness, also from space.” The footage he captured provides a Look into the dynamic and ever-changing nature of the Earth’s atmosphere.
The Thor-Davis experiment is designed to investigate how lightning in the upper atmosphere affects the concentration of greenhouse gases. The experiment involves using a Davis 346 neuromorphic camera mounted on top of a Nikon D5 DSLR camera, which is controlled by an AstroPi unit based on a Raspberry Pi computer board. The setup allows for more detailed observations of thunderclouds and the study of lightning’s impact on the atmosphere.
Private astronaut Marcus Wandt
Wandt’s footage is all the more remarkable given the context in which it was captured. He was part of a four-person crew that spent just over two weeks aboard the ISS, conducting scientific experiments in microgravity conditions. The Axiom-3 mission, organized by Texas-based Axiom Space, marked the first all-European private space mission to the ISS. Wandt’s time on the ISS was marked by his keen eye for photography, as he snapped stunning shots of the Earth from the station’s windows.
In addition to capturing the thunderstorm, Wandt also used his camera to explore the interior of the ISS laboratory, sharing unique and creatively shot images of the facility and its operations. His photography provides a fascinating Look into life aboard the ISS, where even mundane tasks like exercise, getting a haircut, and using the bathroom require special adaptations due to the lack of gravity.
Wandt’s video footage and photographs serve as a powerful reminder of the wonders that can be discovered and observed from space. The International Space Station, a symbol of human cooperation and scientific ingenuity, offers a unique platform for scientists and researchers to study the Earth’s atmosphere and its many phenomena. As we continue to explore and learn more about our planet, videos like Wandt’s provide a charming and inspiring look at the beauty and complexity of our world.
