About the International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) is a modular research station in low Earth orbit operated through an international partnership involving NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). It serves as a laboratory where astronauts and researchers study how living systems, materials, and technologies behave in microgravity.
The station orbits Earth at an altitude of roughly 400 kilometers and travels at about 28,000 kilometers per hour. It completes an orbit in about 90 minutes, allowing astronauts aboard to experience approximately 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets every day.
Beyond scientific research, the ISS provides a unique environment for testing the systems and procedures needed for longer human missions in space. From life-support systems and exercise equipment to robotics, biology, materials science, and Earth observation, the station helps researchers understand how humans can live and work away from Earth.
The ISS is also a remarkable example of international cooperation. Its modules, experiments, spacecraft, crews, and operations represent decades of collaboration between multiple space agencies and thousands of people on Earth.
Understanding the Orbital Feed
The live view above shows imagery from cameras associated with the International Space Station. Because the ISS completes an orbit in roughly 90 minutes, the view can change rapidly between daylight and darkness as the station moves around Earth.
During daylight passes, you may see Earth's atmosphere, oceans, clouds, coastlines, cities, or other features from orbit. During night passes, the view can become much darker, while city lights, lightning, and atmospheric phenomena may become visible.
A black or mostly dark image does not necessarily mean that the camera has stopped working — it may simply mean that the station is currently passing over the night side of Earth. The view can also change when the camera switches, the station enters a different orbital position, or the external feed experiences an interruption.
WHY DOES THE ISS MOVE SO FAST?
From the ground, the International Space Station may look like a small point of light moving across the sky. In reality, it is travelling at roughly 28,000 kilometers per hour so that it can remain in orbit around Earth.
At that speed, the station completes a trip around the planet in about 90 minutes. Its motion is not simply a matter of travelling quickly from one place to another — its high orbital velocity is what allows it to continually fall around Earth without immediately falling back to the surface.
This is also why the ISS can pass over many different parts of the planet in a relatively short time. Earth continues rotating below it while the station follows its orbital path above.
Spot the Station
NASA's Spot the Station service helps you find upcoming opportunities to see the International Space Station from your location. The best viewing opportunities generally occur around dawn or dusk, when the station is illuminated by sunlight while the sky around you is dark enough to see it.
The ISS can appear as a bright, fast-moving point of light in the night sky. You generally do not need a telescope to see it during a good viewing opportunity.
🔭 Find Your Next ISS Sighting
Find out when the International Space Station may be visible from your location. NASA's Spot the Station service provides upcoming viewing opportunities, including the time, duration, and visibility details for passes in your area.
VIEW ISS SIGHTINGS ↗Viewing information provided by NASA's Spot the Station service.