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Don Pettit

@astro_Pettit • 118,527 subscribers

NASA Astronaut. Photographer. Scientist. Inventor.

Shorts

Dragon cargo number 31 undocked yesterday and returned to planet Earth carrying the spoils from our research.

Dragon cargo number 31 undocked yesterday and returned to planet Earth carrying the spoils from our research.

29,222,172 Aufrufe

My best sighting of a Starlink satellite "train" from orbit!

My best sighting of a Starlink satellite "train" from orbit!

1,956,894 Aufrufe

Cosmic fireflies. Actually, these are Starlink satellites momentarily flashing sunlight towards International Space Station.

Cosmic fireflies. Actually, these are Starlink satellites momentarily flashing sunlight towards International Space Station.

4,164,651 Aufrufe

Real-time sunset from orbit. They only last about 8 seconds from start to finish, but seeing 16 per day makes up for it! Timelapses through the transition can be challenging as the exposure overwhelms the camera's dynamic range.

Real-time sunset from orbit. They only last about 8 seconds from start to finish, but seeing 16 per day makes up for it! Timelapses through the transition can be challenging as the exposure overwhelms the camera's dynamic range.

124,197 Aufrufe

Aurora watching into an orbital dawn. This never gets old!

Aurora watching into an orbital dawn. This never gets old!

321,311 Aufrufe

In microgravity, crystals experience "hopper growth," where the outer edges and corners grow at faster rates than the flat faces, creating a step-like appearance. This timelapse records their growth inside a thin water film. Look closely, and you will see the patterns emerge!

In microgravity, crystals experience "hopper growth," where the outer edges and corners grow at faster rates than the flat faces, creating a step-like appearance. This timelapse records their growth inside a thin water film. Look closely, and you will see the patterns emerge!

217,033 Aufrufe

OK; you all asked if this was possible…..

OK; you all asked if this was possible…..

1,027,913 Aufrufe

How to change a camera lens……

How to change a camera lens……

812,414 Aufrufe

Gibraltar to Italy. Nothing like learning your geography, not from an atlas but from looking at the real thing.

Gibraltar to Italy. Nothing like learning your geography, not from an atlas but from looking at the real thing.

759,663 Aufrufe

How to change your camera battery in weightlessness.

How to change your camera battery in weightlessness.

245,736 Aufrufe

Homework problem for engineers, physics students, and various Uber-Geeks: The bright metal object in my hands is a 373.3kg (821.2 lbm) counter weight on @space_station. The facing side is 22.2cm (8.75 inches) wide. Calculate my mass. Post answers in questions.

Homework problem for engineers, physics students, and various Uber-Geeks: The bright metal object in my hands is a 373.3kg (821.2 lbm) counter weight on @space_station. The facing side is 22.2cm (8.75 inches) wide. Calculate my mass. Post answers in questions.

673,998 Aufrufe

Green vaporous turbulence; tonight’s show of aurora from International Space Station

Green vaporous turbulence; tonight’s show of aurora from International Space Station

538,268 Aufrufe

How to dispense pistachios when on orbit

How to dispense pistachios when on orbit

476,147 Aufrufe

Mother Earth, I am coming home.

Mother Earth, I am coming home.

298,342 Aufrufe

An orbital sunrise with comet C/2023.

An orbital sunrise with comet C/2023.

132,334 Aufrufe

Aurora seen today from International Space Station while orbit was passing between Australia and Antartrica; photographer Jannicke Mikkelsen now on the private FRAM2 space mission will be having an even better view in their polar orbit.

Aurora seen today from International Space Station while orbit was passing between Australia and Antartrica; photographer Jannicke Mikkelsen now on the private FRAM2 space mission will be having an even better view in their polar orbit.

242,219 Aufrufe

Here is a movie clip (processed by Babak- big thanks) sequentially adding the star trail still frames creating orbital motion.

Here is a movie clip (processed by Babak- big thanks) sequentially adding the star trail still frames creating orbital motion.

208,927 Aufrufe

Whenever you see the ISS from Earth, WE aboard the ISS cannot see you! When ISS is exposed in sunlight, our window reflectivity blinds us! We can only see you when you cannot see us! Same effect as how you cannot see through your kitchen window at night when the lights are on!

Whenever you see the ISS from Earth, WE aboard the ISS cannot see you! When ISS is exposed in sunlight, our window reflectivity blinds us! We can only see you when you cannot see us! Same effect as how you cannot see through your kitchen window at night when the lights are on!

122,587 Aufrufe

Something for your inner Uber-Geek; capillary rise in a 10mm diameter drinking straw.

Something for your inner Uber-Geek; capillary rise in a 10mm diameter drinking straw.

170,907 Aufrufe

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Dragon orbiting across Europe into Asia.

Dragon orbiting across Europe into Asia.

64,103,143 Aufrufe • vor 11 Monaten

In weightlessness, water can take forms that are not possible under normal gravitational conditions. One example being thin sheets, 500 microns thick, formed in a wire loop like in a soap film but here as pure water with no surfactant.

In weightlessness, water can take forms that are not possible under normal gravitational conditions. One example being thin sheets, 500 microns thick, formed in a wire loop like in a soap film but here as pure water with no surfactant.

868,982 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten

POV of the space shuttle pitch maneuver! I filmed this from Endeavour on STS-126. The RPM was standard safety procedure to expose the heat shield to ISS for inspection. My commander was gracious enough to let me put a camera on the window to get this, now one of few such videos!

POV of the space shuttle pitch maneuver! I filmed this from Endeavour on STS-126. The RPM was standard safety procedure to expose the heat shield to ISS for inspection. My commander was gracious enough to let me put a camera on the window to get this, now one of few such videos!

85,156 Aufrufe • vor 11 Tagen

A new spin on orbital video.

A new spin on orbital video.

4,632,625 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

Spacewalking! The movie 2001 is one of my favorites, I had to try this as a 2025 tribute.

Spacewalking! The movie 2001 is one of my favorites, I had to try this as a 2025 tribute.

2,054,455 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

The "Dzhanibekov effect", seen in a rotating object where it will flip its axis by 180 degrees, is demonstrated in microgravity with our camera.

The "Dzhanibekov effect", seen in a rotating object where it will flip its axis by 180 degrees, is demonstrated in microgravity with our camera.

933,781 Aufrufe • vor 8 Monaten

Having an Uber Geek moment on orbit; I took a Teflon knitting needle and got charged water drops to orbit around it.

Having an Uber Geek moment on orbit; I took a Teflon knitting needle and got charged water drops to orbit around it.

1,145,884 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

How to make planet Jupiter: 1) be on the International Space Station 2) make a thin film sphere of water 3) add food coloring 4) blow on the edge to create swirls This is way cool!

How to make planet Jupiter: 1) be on the International Space Station 2) make a thin film sphere of water 3) add food coloring 4) blow on the edge to create swirls This is way cool!

215,598 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten

This was so fascinating. I had a teflon knitting needle on ishaan and charged it by rubbing with my Russian fur boots. Then I directed water droplets from a syringe towards the charged knitting needle and this is the resulting dynamics. The droplets, due to charge forces, go into a crazy orbit around the knitting needle. If planets were cylindrical this would be the orbit of its moons due to gravity. Canon G1 video camera, Expedition 30, 2012.

This was so fascinating. I had a teflon knitting needle on ishaan and charged it by rubbing with my Russian fur boots. Then I directed water droplets from a syringe towards the charged knitting needle and this is the resulting dynamics. The droplets, due to charge forces, go into a crazy orbit around the knitting needle. If planets were cylindrical this would be the orbit of its moons due to gravity. Canon G1 video camera, Expedition 30, 2012.

810,646 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

In the weightlessness on International Space Station I placed a sphere of water with an air bubble on a speaker cone, then drove it with acoustical waves from the speaker. This created a series of standing nodes and anti-nodes that responded to the frequency and amplitude. A zero gravity Lava Lamp! Will post what happens when I drove this with some of my favorite rock and roll! From Expedition 31, 2012.

In the weightlessness on International Space Station I placed a sphere of water with an air bubble on a speaker cone, then drove it with acoustical waves from the speaker. This created a series of standing nodes and anti-nodes that responded to the frequency and amplitude. A zero gravity Lava Lamp! Will post what happens when I drove this with some of my favorite rock and roll! From Expedition 31, 2012.

876,416 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren

Hello Mother Earth

Hello Mother Earth

288,393 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

I am not the best "Yo-Yoer" on Earth. But in space, I have no competition!

I am not the best "Yo-Yoer" on Earth. But in space, I have no competition!

94,067 Aufrufe • vor 5 Monaten

Orbital motion of the ISS, visualized by sequentially adding the still frames of my star trails. Seen are stacking golden streaks of city lights and straight-line stars in our orbital direction. A surreal perspective of our Earth!

Orbital motion of the ISS, visualized by sequentially adding the still frames of my star trails. Seen are stacking golden streaks of city lights and straight-line stars in our orbital direction. A surreal perspective of our Earth!

108,625 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten

Orbital star trails showing satellites flashing white marks into the time history of arcing stars. When viewed up close, they remind me of scratches on a vinyl record!

Orbital star trails showing satellites flashing white marks into the time history of arcing stars. When viewed up close, they remind me of scratches on a vinyl record!

81,519 Aufrufe • vor 5 Monaten

This is how I make my star trails. Sequences of still images assembled until the beauty of Earth from International Space Station reshapes into a new form by the forces of time, nature, and physics. Thanks to Christopher Malin for making this video clip from my Expedition 30 photographs.

This is how I make my star trails. Sequences of still images assembled until the beauty of Earth from International Space Station reshapes into a new form by the forces of time, nature, and physics. Thanks to Christopher Malin for making this video clip from my Expedition 30 photographs.

299,818 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren

Free flying propeller on ISS. Video is running at real speed. In weightlessness the propeller can slowly move through the cabin atmosphere.

Free flying propeller on ISS. Video is running at real speed. In weightlessness the propeller can slowly move through the cabin atmosphere.

150,099 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

“Two Steppin on the Moon”; Country Western singer Josh Turner Josh Turner visited Houston Mission Control and sang us this song. Suni Williams and I decided to give it a try while Butch Wilmore filmed the effort. Here is “Two Steppin in Space”. Big thanks to Josh Turner and Renee Behrman (his manager) for letting us use his music.

“Two Steppin on the Moon”; Country Western singer Josh Turner Josh Turner visited Houston Mission Control and sang us this song. Suni Williams and I decided to give it a try while Butch Wilmore filmed the effort. Here is “Two Steppin in Space”. Big thanks to Josh Turner and Renee Behrman (his manager) for letting us use his music.

149,243 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

Close Encounter but not of the third kind; Longer version of Crew 10 docking to International Space Station

Close Encounter but not of the third kind; Longer version of Crew 10 docking to International Space Station

153,659 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

Changes in attitude, changes in latitude: International Space Station We rotated 180 degrees and flew backwards for yesterday’s Soyuz docking. This is a bit long but keep watching for the surprise in the middle.

Changes in attitude, changes in latitude: International Space Station We rotated 180 degrees and flew backwards for yesterday’s Soyuz docking. This is a bit long but keep watching for the surprise in the middle.

143,540 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr