Humans Are LIVING in Space!

Did you know that 6 humans are living in space RIGHT now? And you can see them pass overhead if you know where to look? Astronauts have been living on the International Space Station (ISS) continuously since November 2, 2000. That makes for almost 14 years of continuous human presence in space. Pretty darn cool!

Image credit: NASA. From left are cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos, NASA astronaut Steve Swanson and cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev; ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst, cosmonaut Maxim Suraev and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman.

There are two NASA astronauts, three Russian cosmonauts, and one ESA astronaut on the current mission on the ISS, Expedition 40. This expedition will include research projects focusing on humans living in space, biology and biotechnology, physical science investigations, technology demonstrations and educational activities. There are two Russian and three U.S. spacewalks planned during Expedition 40. Half the crew will land and be replaced in September, while the other half will land and be replaced in November. 

Image Credit: NASA

The ISS orbits Earth incredibly quickly, moving about 17,000 mph! It travels at just the right speed around Earth so that it is always in free fall - never falling into the atmosphere and burning up, and never escaping Earth's gravity. The astronauts live in a microgravity environment, which makes daily living tasks like eating, sleeping, and going to the bathroom much more interesting. Check out a wet towel in space - it is way more fun than on Earth! 



One of the neatest spaces on the ISS is the cupola, a bay of windows from which astronauts view and take photographs of Earth. Many astronauts report that viewing Earth from this perspective is a life changing experience. You can look for astronauts on social media of all kinds - they post photos and updates frequently.

Image Credit: NASA. NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Expedition 24 flight engineer, looks through a window in the Cupola of the International Space Station. A blue and white part of Earth and the blackness of space are visible through the windows. The image was a self-portrait using natural light.

12 Dec. 2006, Backdropped by New Zealand and Cook Strait in the Pacific Ocean, astronaut Robert L. Curbeam Jr. (left) and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Christer Fuglesang, both STS-116 mission specialists, participate in the mission's first of three planned sessions of extravehicular activity (EVA) as construction continues on the International Space Station. Cook Strait divides New Zealand's North and South Islands. Image Credit: NASA

Since the ISS orbits Earth 16 times every day, you can often see it pass overhead! In fact, you can see it tonight (June 9) between 10:26:44 and 10:28:16, low in the NNW moving towards N. It will look like a very bright, quickly moving object, and will disappear from view after 2 minutes. It is even brighter than Jupiter and Venus! You have chances to see it every night this week. Check out heavens-above.com for information on how to see many other satellites as well. Put in your observing location and click on the satellite that you would like to see. 

There is an excellent website where you can see a high resolution view from the ISS 24 hours a day. It is very peaceful and beautiful to see the Earth passing below. I encourage you to check it out! 

Earth looks magical passing below. Astronauts on the ISS can see the aurora, city lights from Earth at night, lightning storms, sunrises and sunsets, and the simple beauty of white clouds and deep blue water. Check out this video to see the world from their perspective! 


As always, visit the Dome at the Peoria Riverfront Museum to learn what you can see in the sky at night. See our schedule and showtimes here. Good luck seeing the ISS from your backyard!