Dubai: The mysteries of the universe has inspired astronomers and scientists for centuries.
And with the release of this rare live-feed video of the Earth as it orbits the sun, the Dubai Future Foundation aims to encourage a new generation of scientists in the region.
The 15-minute video was posted on the official online platform of the Foundation’s knowledge portal Mostaqbal, which was released last Tuesday, October 4.
The footage was obtained in collaboration with US space agency NASA.
Fatma Bujsaim, Project Manager at Dubai Future Foundation, said: “As part of the Foundation’s effort to spread knowledge in the Arab world, we are working through Mostaqbal Portal with various world-leading scientific institutions to make scientific research more appealing to broader segments of society.”
On social media, where the portal’s page has more than four million followers, the video was viewed more than 350,000 times, received over 22,000 likes and 5,000 comments from around the world.
The footage was filmed using highly sophisticated techniques and equipment and then broadcast from the International Space Station, allowing followers to enjoy the breathtaking views of the sunrise and the Earth’s movement.
“The Portal is one of the Foundation’s flagship initiatives, which aims to inspire a new generation of Arab scientists and innovators and encourage them to take the first step towards affecting positive change in the world,” said Bujsaim.
The International Space Station’s orbit around the Earth is approximately 354 kilometers in length, it travels at around 27,700 km/h, and can traverse the Earth’s orbit in 92 minutes.
Consequently, astronauts on board the station witness a sunrise or sunset every 45 minutes – that’s almost 15 or 16 of each, every 24 hours.
