NASA Stock Footage Site: A New Era in Space Exploration

Perhaps they may not be as good as the view from orbit, but NASA's new stock footage site is pretty close. The solar system? Big. And now, you can bring its spectacular views into your living room.

NASA will post new videos every few weeks on their ReelNASA YouTube channel for users who have television screens or computer displays that can show footage of high resolution. The RED camera, used to record theatrical releases such as The Hobbit trilogy and television programs, is capable of shooting at resolutions ranging from conventional HDTV up to 6K.

You will need a screen capable of displaying 4K resolution for the full effect, but even standard screens will be able to enjoy the high-quality playback. NASA video editors are working on space station footage for public viewing on YouTube, and ultra-HD televisions capable of receiving and displaying 4K transmissions are now sold in stores.

The new camera is ideal for science investigations, giving researchers a valuable new tool aboard the space station. Its ability to record at high resolution as well as up to 300 frames per second made it perfect for capturing dynamic events like vehicle operations near the station, such as docking and undocking.

The fifth SpaceX cargo resupply mission delivered this camera to the orbiting laboratory in January 2015. The RED Epic Dragon camera is capable of shooting at resolutions ranging from conventional HDTV up to 6K, specifically 6144 x 3160 pixels.

By comparison, the average HD consumer television displays up to 1920 x 1080 pixels of resolution, and digital cinemas typically project 2,000 to 4,000. The higher resolution images and higher frame rate videos can reveal more information when used on science investigations, giving researchers a valuable new tool aboard the space station.

With NASA's new stock footage site, you'll be able to watch high-resolution footage from inside and outside the orbiting laboratory right on your computer screen. It's an exciting time for space exploration, and now you can bring it into your own home.

Nasa stock footage site