A spacewalk - ready Nikon television camera aboard the International Space Station . NASA
While astronauts aboard the International Space Station ( ISS ) pass most of their time conducting science experiments in microgravity conditions , some of their study also let in capturing images of Earth for research and monitoring — and also so we folks back on terra firma can appreciate just what a beautiful property it is .
NASA astronaut have mostly used Nikon film and DSLR cameras to snap those shots , but a recent delivery to the ISS commemorate a new era for hand-held picture taking aboard the orbital outpost .
A spacewalk-ready Nikon camera aboard the International Space Station.NASA
That ’s because the shipment , which arrived at the station aboard a Cygnus cargo ship last week , include mirrorless Nikon cameras for the first clock time .
The high - death Nikon Z9 , plunge in 2021 , will replace the current inventory of Nikon D6 and D5 DSLR photographic camera on the ISS , with the latter being in service there since 2017 .
The new camera equipment admit 13 Z9 tv camera bodies , 15 FTZ II adapter for connecting sr. F - mount Nikkor lenses , and more than 15 Nikkor Z lenses , include super - telephoto and macro lenses . While the Nikon cameras aboard the ISS have not been physically qualify , engineers have work with NASA to produce a custom dedicated microcode for dependable carrying out in the rough space environment .
“ Since the Apollo 15 mission more than 50 years ago , Nikon camera and lens have been used by NASA for quad exploration on various missionary work and the space bird , ” the Nipponese camera giantsaidin a release . “ commence in 1999 , Nikon cameras ( Nikon F5 ) and Nikkor lenses have been used aboard the revolve laboratory to help in scientific inquiry , maintenance , and aiding astronaut capturing the iconic mental image of Earth , the heavens , and beyond . ”
The caller also observe that its cameras are used not only inside the space station but also on spacewalks in the “ unrelenting vacuum cleaner of space ” by place the gadget inside a special blanket casing develop by NASA .
Nikon unveiled its mirrorless ezed - serial in 2018 , and advancements in the applied science since then have brought it to a level ready for ISS deployment . The mirrorless systemallows for smaller , light camera bodies and other advantage over DSLRs , and major camera manufacturers have been make a motion toward the engineering in recent yr .
The old Nikon DSLR cameras have certainlyproduced some arresting resultsover the years , but seize those image also needed a proficient heart , a great deal of acquisition , and plenty of planning . We ’re certainly looking forward to seeing what the ISS spaceman produce with the new mirrorless photographic camera train .
