With the sudden global interest in space tourism, although for now open to a select group of millionaires, many doubts have been raised about life above the stratosphere. The most common include the question of the cancellation of gravity and which structures on Earth can be clearly seen from space.
The discussion ultimately brought to light a post that Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield wrote on Twitter more than a decade ago. According to the experienced astronaut, participant in three official missions and former commander of the International Space Station (ISS), “The Great Wall of China is not visible to the naked eye from orbit.”
The statement, which contradicts one of the widespread beliefs of humanity, is explained by the fact that not all reliefs, textures and shades on our planet are clearly visible in places like the ISS. According to Hadfield, the impressive Chinese construction does not appear because it is very narrow and follows the natural contours and colors of the planet’s atmosphere.
.@fiji_blue The Great Wall of China is not visible to the naked eye from orbit. It is too narrow and follows the natural contours and colors.
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) June 5, 2013
Because which terrestrial landscapes can be seen from space?
Although not all structures existing on Earth can be clearly identified from space, there are some that can be seen very clearly on the ISS, for example. Generally they are larger, have a distinct shape and are located in open places without obstructions to visibility.. Below we give four examples of these admirable landscapes from the perspective of space. Checkout!
1. The Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
According to the NASA website, the Great Pyramids of Giza region in Egypt is the most popular destination for all astronauts arriving in space. And although the monument has already been photographed and filmed extensively, with every movement of the ISS, new angles and shadows continue to provide a unique view.
2. The Himalayan Mountains
This image of the Himalayas, the highest mountains on earth, was taken on June 10, 2021. The Tibetan Plateau and the IndoGangetic Plain can be seen. In addition to the main rivers Ganges, Ghaghara and Gandak, there are about 1,000 kilometers of snowcapped peaks with numerous lakes and mountain glaciers. Highlighted, Chomolungma, which we know as Mount Everest, the highest peak on earth at 8,848.86 meters.
3. Colorado’s Grand Canyon
These images were provided by the High Definition EarthViewing System (HDEV), which operated on the ISS from April 2014 to August 2022. They show a flyby of the space station from northwest to southeast over Colorado’s Grand Canyon, the famous gorge in the state of Arizona in the USA.
4. The Amazon
These images of the Amazon released from the virtual television studios of ESA, the European Space Agency, were taken in 2017 and show its famous delta in the state of Pará, where the world’s longest river flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
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