On the first day of 2024, the European Space Agency (ESA) shared a captivating time-lapse video showing our planet Earth as seen from the International Space Station (ISS).
The stunning footage, captured by ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen, showcased the sea-blue Earth as seen from the spacecraft's window.
In an Instagram post, ESA wished the New Year, „Happy New Year, Earth. With this timelapse captured from @iss by our astronaut Andreas Mogensen, we wish you a peaceful, safe and exciting year 2024! May the New Year be full of great adventures and opportunities! Universe and Earth Let's bring miracles to the palm of your hand.”
The video has attracted attention from nearly 14,000 online users, with many expressing their awe at the breathtaking footage.
One Instagram user commented, “Thank you so much for sharing. It's amazing,” another noted, adding, „Another amazing year of what our species can do…if we dare to transgress.”
ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen, who captured the remarkable footage, shared the video on his personal Instagram account.
In his caption, he shared an insight into celebrating the New Year in space, “Happy New Year from Space! The space station, traveling at 28,000 kilometers per hour, will cross the International Date Line several times tonight, so we'll be celebrating the New Year here several times.”
Mogensen explained the crew's celebratory routine, „The day is spent with the crew, where we relax, enjoy some good food, and maybe go up to the cupola to see the Earth. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the fireworks. Up here, but the view of the Earth is still awesome, and January 1st to start off the New Year slowly. We have a holiday that day.
The images featured a Christmas decoration in the background, and Mogensen wrote in the post, „Now it's Christmas on the space station too! Merry Christmas from our 'family' to you. Hope your evening was as fun as ours.” The post received numerous comments from netizens extending their holiday wishes to the astronauts on board the space shuttle.
(with inputs from agencies)