Breathtaking photos of the Blue Marble-like Earth surrounded by the black abyss of space were taken by the first ultra-high-resolution camera orbiting our planet.
As a result, the footage shows a bright blue planet surrounded by blackness, the Daily Mail reports.
The photo was taken using a 360-degree measurement launched into space by a private Chinese company, which called its creation an “astronomical achievement.” According to the makers of the next-generation camera, the Shenzhen-based camera company Insta360, these space images are just the beginning. The manufacturers note that in the near future they also plan to make similarly clear images of the stars and the Milky Way.
It should be noted that it took 12 months to modernize the company’s commercially available cameras so that they could travel beyond the Earth. At the same time, the scientists spent about six months on research and development, including imitation or exceeding the harsh conditions of space, including cosmic radiation.
It is known that the temperature in space ranges from -70 to 48 degrees Celsius, depending on the region of the Earth over which the camera is orbiting at any given time. As a result, the developers conducted thousands of tests to recreate all possible conditions: they placed the cameras in high and low temperature boxes, conducted radiation tests, and simulated a vacuum.
In January 2023, the manufacturers launched two X2 cameras into space at a distance of about 500 kilometers and attached them to two satellites. In this way, they were able to test the cameras in the harshest conditions, including extreme heat and cold, radiation, as well as shock and vibration simulating a rocket launch.
According to the developers, this project requires effort, but also luck, because outer space is very unpredictable. As a result, both cameras are still functional and capable of taking amazing photos of outer space.
The developers note that their creations are so incredible that 5.7K resolution, 360-degree videos and photos simply cannot be fully appreciated on YouTube, even using the highest quality screens – their maximum resolution is still 4K. By the way, the price of the Insta360 ONE X2 camera today is about $300.
During the experiments, the scientists tested the camera in a thermal vacuum chamber. At first, they noticed that the systems failed at very low temperatures and that the glue sealing the X2 could be damaged by radiation. In addition, scientists have encountered the fact that a vacuum environment can lead to a loss of pressure in the lens, which degrades the resolution and quality of the photo. However, over time, scientists were able to get rid of these shortcomings.
The developers note that their X2 cameras make a full circle around our planet in 90 minutes and are programmed to operate for two years, after which they will automatically leave Earth’s orbit and burn up in space.
