International Space Station Footage Showing Rocket Launch From Earth Goes Viral

Video footage showing a rocket launch as seen from the International Space Station has gone viral, with social media users saying it is simply 'amazing'.

The clip itself is from a rocket launch that took place on 16 November 2018, which saw the Russian Progress MS-10 cargo spacecraft launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

It was filmed by European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst from the International Space Station

At the time of the launch, the ESA said: "The spacecraft was launched atop a Soyuz rocket with 2564 kg of cargo and supplies.

"Flying at 28 800 km/h, 400 km high, the International Space Station requires regular supplies from Earth such as this Progress launch.

"Spacecraft are launched after the Space Station flies overhead so they catch up with the orbital outpost to dock, in this case two days later on 18 November 2018."

European Space Agency

Fast forward to almost two years later and the clip has resurfaced online, where people are in awe of the 'beautiful' video.

Sharing the footage, one Twitter user wrote: "Rocket launch from earth as seen by the International Space Station."

The tweet has been a huge hit with space fans, amassing more than 24,000 likes and 6,000 retweets.

One person commented: "Quite amazing."

A second said: "This is beautiful. Given the state of the world, I'm glad this is the last image I see before bed. Gives me hope."

European Space Agency

While another person also said: "That is amazing. Something that looks so simple but takes a lot to actually happen. The feelings of peace and beauty that gives you. Wow."

The ESA said the footage is actually a time-lapse of images taken from the European-built Cupola module, with a camera set to take pictures at regular intervals.

These images are then 'played quickly after each other at 8 to 16 times normal speed', with the video showing around 15 minutes of the launch at normal speed.

"The Progress spacecraft delivered food, fuel and supplies, including about 750 kg of propellant, 75 kg of oxygen and air and 440 l of water," the ESA explained in a post on its website.

The agency added that notable moments from the video include 00:07 (Soyuz-FG rocket booster separation), 00:19 (Core stage separation), 00:34:05 (Core stage starts burning in the atmosphere as it returns to Earth after having spent all its fuel) and 00:34:19 (Progress spacecraft separates from rocket and enters orbit to catch up with the International Space Station).

Topics: Viral, World News, News, space

Jess Hardiman

Jess is a journalist at LADbible who graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Film Studies, English Language and Linguistics - indecisiveness at its finest, right there. She also works for FOODbible and its sister page Seitanists, which are both a safe haven for her to channel a love for homemade pasta, fennel and everything else in between. You can contact Jess at [email protected].

@Jess_Hardiman