Astronaut Don Pettit recently shared a remarkable timelapse video of the SpaceX Dragon capsule undocking from the International Space Station (ISS) and returning to Earth. The footage, which appears to show a high-speed departure, was actually created by speeding up an event that took considerable time.
The SpaceX-made Cargo Dragon, carrying crew supplies and scientific experiments, weighed around 2,700 kilograms and was part of NASA’s 31st commercial resupply services mission. After departing from the ISS, the cargo capsule splashed down off the Florida coast, marking a successful return to Earth.
Dragon is uniquely designed to bring back experiments to Earth, as other capsules burn up during reentry. Pettit, who is currently residing on the ISS, recently shared an interview with fellow astronaut Matthew Dominick, discussing what it’s like taking photos in zero gravity.
To minimize motion blur, photographers in orbit use fast shutter speeds or “hand track” the Earth as it moves by. Dominick revealed that stabilizing on the Earth involves looking through the viewfinder and keeping the center of the crosshairs on a fixed spot. The timelapse video showcases Pettit’s incredible photography skills, further solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest photographers to have visited space.
Source: https://petapixel.com/2024/12/18/astronaut-captures-timelapse-of-cargo-spacecraft-undocking-from-the-iss-don-pettit-spacex-dragon