[AMann]

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

[Rushy]

I always find this "realistic" scifi so much more boring than the more lenient scifi.

[AMann]

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

Textbook successful launch.
In low orbit now, 140 miles to 112 miles above the earth. Will go to higher orbits in jumps over the next 6 hours.

[AMann]

The interesting part is Scott Kelly's role on this particular mission. Stays at the International Space Station are typically 4 - 6 months. Scott Kelly will be there for an entire year. NASA will be monitoring him to see what increased exposure time in space does to the human body. The data will be used when planning future space missions. Cool stuff.

[Ghost of V]

I've seen better sets in early Star Trek. Seriously, this is absolutely pathetic.

[AMann]

Interesting fact:
Astronaut Scott Kelly will see 10,944 sunrises and sunsets during his year in space.
In that same time, we will only see 684 ;-)

[markjo]

I've seen better sets in early Star Trek. Seriously, this is absolutely pathetic.

I agree.  Reality is highly overrated.

[AMann]

Docking with the International Space Station was successful

2 crew members of the launch today (Scott Kelly and his Russian counterpart) will be staying on board for a full year.

Will be fun to follow what happens

[Pete Svarrior]

Will be fun to follow what happens

Spoilers: Vader is Luke's father.

[mister bickles]

Watch Scott Kelly's launch live

....brought to you by "Area 51 Productions"   

[AMann]

Fun video by a NASA astronaut sharing a lot of information and pictures and videos from the International Space Station

[Tom Bishop]

Fun video by a NASA astronaut sharing a lot of information and pictures and videos from the International Space Station

I have a question for you. In many of the images from the earth from the ISS it appears that entire continents can be seen:

http://wiki.tfes.org/images/1/16/17-05-20122-31-21AM.png

But in other images from the ISS we can see patchwork fields:

http://wiki.tfes.org/images/0/01/17-05-20123-03-46AM.png

Since the ISS is at relatively the same altitude at all times, keeping between a narrow range of 400km to 416km, how do these pictures make sense?

[Rama Set]

It seems Tom, that you are starting to realize that different camera angles and different lenses can cause different perspectives.

[Tom Bishop]

It seems Tom, that you are starting to realize that different camera angles and different lenses can cause different perspectives.

So turning the view of a continent into an airplane view of patchwork fields is a matter of the angle of the camera? 

[Rama Set]

It seems Tom, that you are starting to realize that different camera angles and different lenses can cause different perspectives.

So turning the view of a continent into an airplane view of patchwork fields is a matter of the angle of the camera? 

If you want to ignore half my post then I suppose you would think that.

[markjo]

It seems Tom, that you are starting to realize that different camera angles and different lenses can cause different perspectives.

So turning the view of a continent into an airplane view of patchwork fields is a matter of the angle of the camera? 

Just out of curiosity Tom, do you know the focal lengths of the lenses and sizes of the sensors for each photo?

[AMann]

Just a follow-up infographic on how space is affecting Scott Kelly's body:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/infographic_yearinspace

[huh?]

I have a question for you.
In many of the images from the earth from the ISS it appears that entire continents can be seen:

http://wiki.tfes.org/images/1/16/17-05-20122-31-21AM.png

But in other images from the ISS we can see patchwork fields:

http://wiki.tfes.org/images/0/01/17-05-20123-03-46AM.png

Since the ISS is at relatively the same altitude at all times, keeping between a narrow range of 400km to 416km, how do these pictures make sense?

First of all you need a basic understanding of what you are looking at:

In picture #1 -there is no entire continent in that picture

In picture #2 -there are no patchwork fields in that picture

They actually have many cameras onboard which have a variety of lens lengths and that is why you can find a variety of images with more or less Earth surface in view. I think I read that they have a camera which can resolve to 3 meters or so. I am sure they would have 55mm or shorter lens as well as wide angle lenses also.