For a long time I've wanted a webcam in space. There have been numerous posts on MemeStreams about Gore's attempt at this. Fortunately now that the Republicans are out of power, his satellite may finally launch, but its going to take a long time to make that a reality.

But Gore's satellite is an ambitious project. When I originally considered this I was thinking of a cheap camera on a cheap satellite - something within the budget of amateur satellite operators and not a nation state.

But its worth pointing out that NASA has a space station. They send people up there all the time. Why not just send someone up with a camera and leave it running all the time? How expensive could that possible be?

In March NASA finally did this, sort of. They announced a channel (linked here) with views of the earth from one of the cameras that is already mounted to the outside of the International Space Station. You can now tune into this channel and see exactly what you would want to see if you were actually in space. Its the next best thing to being there.

Why couldn't they have done this before? Is it possible that this was announced in March because we have a new Presidential administration?

Whatever the reason, its here now. Although for some reason today its only showing telemetry data. I wonder how often it shows actual footage. I wonder if I can get this in HD?

Update: Apparently this only works when the crew is asleep. They are awake now, so I will have to try later. As for HD, not on my cable system, or on Direct TV. It doesn't even sound like this channel goes out over C-Band.

There is going to be little demand for this because it only really operates during the wee hours of the morning and its pretty grainy.

NASA - NASA TV - Space Station Webcam