NASA live streams the first 4K video from space. The quality has given viewers the live feed from the space station orbiting at about 220 miles above the surface of the Earth.
The live stream was part of a show from the annual National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention, part of a panel called “Reaching for the Stars: Connecting to the Future with NASA and Hollywood.".
The stream featured a conversation between NASA's astronaut and Expedition 51 commander Dr. Peggy Whitson on the station and Jack Fischer. They talked to NAB show attendees on the ground for only a few minutes, and did some experiments in detailed resolution.
Dr. Whitson and Fischer also explained some of the benefits of having 4K live streaming technology in space. From providing live footage of experiments under way on the International Space Station, to providing astronauts the ability to use things like slow motion cameras for capturing high detail visuals and transmit the results in real-time to researchers on Earth.
Fischer also noted that being able to broadcast an outside view of the station has big potential benefits.
The advantages of high-resolution imaging and broadcasting capabilities are also becoming more important as humans are pushing the boundaries to push even further to space, including Mars.
4K as well as advanced imaging capabilities will be important as a part of the decision-making process in the lead-up to a Mars journey. Using the technology, astronauts can have a better advantage in the planning process as they can see and study the destination in space in advance, as Dr. Whitson explained.