It was not supposed to be a photo safari. Nasa lofted Scott Kelly into orbit aboard the International Space Station in March 2015 for a year so that scientists could learn what happens to the human body during long missions in space. (A lot, as it turned out.)
But between blood draws and equipment repairs, Kelly aimed a Nikon D4 toward the windows of the space station's cupola or — his preferred spot — a porthole in the floor ofa laboratory module.
A snowstorm over the East Coast, the ethereal aurora, the Pantone deserts of North Africa, the vast swirl of the Caribbean — Kelly captured it all and then shared it, turning Twitter into an eye on Earth. Many of the images are collected in a book, Infinite Wonder, published in October.
One day the data gleaned from Kelly's medical experiments may open the door to new worlds. His photos gave us an unrivalled glimpse at the one we've already got.
Egypt, as seen from the International Space Station on December 24, 2015. Photo / Scott Kelly/Nasa via The New York Times
Astronaut Scott Kelly in the cupola of the International Space Station, December 5, 2010. Photo / JSC/Nasa via The New York TImes
The Bahamas, seen from the International Space Station, July 19, 2015. Photo / Scott Kelly/Nasa via The New York Times
Astronaut Scott Kelly's living quarters on the International Space Station, April 24, 2015. Photo / Scott Kelly/Nasa via The New York Times
The Great Sand Sea of Libya and Egypt, seen from the International Space Station, May 8, 2015. Photo / Scott Kelly/Nasa via The New York Times
The moon, Venus and Jupiter, seen from the International Space Station, July 19, 2015. Photo / Scott Kelly/Nasa via The New York Times
An aurora, seen from the International Space Station, August 15, 2015. Photo / Scott Kelly/Nasa via The New York Times
The Milky Way, the International Space Station and Earth, August 9, 2015. Photo / Scott Kelly/Nasa via The New York Times
Japan at night, seen from the International Space Station, July 25, 2015. Photo / Scott Kelly/Nasa via The New York Times
Astronaut Scott Kelly with a delivery of fresh produce aboard the International Space Station, August 25, 2015. Photo / Scott Kelly/Nasa via The New York Times
Scott Kelly taking a selfie on October 28, 2015, during a space walk conducted during his year in space. Photo / Scott Kelly/Nasa via The New York Times
The Mediterranean coast of France, seen from the International Space Station, August 29, 2015. Photo / Scott Kelly/Nasa via The New York Times
A frozen lake in the Himalayas, seen from the International Space Station, January 6, 2016. Photo / Scott Kelly/Nasa via The New York Times
A snowstorm over the East Coast of the United States, seen from the International Space Station, January 23, 2016. Photo / Scott Kelly/Nasa via The New York Times
A zinnia growing in the cupola of the International Space Station, January 17, 2016. Photo / Scott Kelly/Nasa via The New York Times
The view of Santa Clara, California, during Super Bowl 50, seen from the International Space Station, February 8, 2016. Photo / Scott Kelly/Nasa via The New York Times
