Patterns in Crew-Initiated Photography of Earth from the ISS—
Is Earth Observation a Salutogenic Experience?METHODS
ParticipantsImages taken by up to 19 ISS crewmembers, beginning with ISS Expedition 4
(December 2001, when the full capability of the digital camera began to be used)
and continuing through Expedition 11 (October 2005), were included in this study.
Ten were astronauts with NASA, and nine were Russian cosmonauts. The expe-
ditions consisted of three crewmembers through Expedition 6, when the number
of crewmembers on the Station dropped to two, one Russian and one American.
Gender of the crew for Expeditions 4 through 11 was predominantly male with only
one female astronaut. It is not known whether every individual on board the ISS
actually used the camera, nor which individuals took which images.
Data and AnalysesDigital photographs are taken on orbit and downlinked to the ground during
the course of the mission. These are separated by content (Earth, hardware, peo-
ple). All Earth images become part of the Database of Astronaut Photography of
Earth, which was used for these analyses and is available online.^20
We analyzed the Earth photography patterns using the digital data recorded on
the back of the digital cameras used on the ISS. The cameras automatically record
the date and time when the photograph was taken, as well as specific photographic
parameters. The data do not identify the individuals using the camera, as any crew-
member may pick up any camera to take pictures, and individuals often stop briefly
at a window to take pictures throughout the day. Crews are cross-trained in the use
of the imagery equipment. Some crews share the responsibility of taking images of
Earth; in other crews, one member might have more interest and thus be the pri-
mary photographer. Regardless, crewmembers report photographing areas known to
be of interest to fellow crewmembers.
- NASA, Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth Web site, http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
(accessed 9 December 2010).