Space Spectacle Over Delhi: Resident Captures Dazzling ISS Flyby as India Watches Astronaut Shukla Orbit Above

Key Highlights

 

At 5:42 IST on July 8, residents of Delhi witnessed something out of the ordinary as the International Space Station (ISS) traversed the pre-dawn horizon, stunningly captured in scintillating definition by a resident of Sainik Farms on an iPhone 16. The ISS was visible as a shining, fast-moving object, dominating stars and delighting early morning walkers in the city.

 

This is especially relevant to India because India's newest astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, is aboard the ISS. Shukla's mission is a first, being the second Indian in space since a 41-year gap. His presence has sparked a public interest boom, with many following the station's flyover of Indian skies with much interest.

 

How to Spot the ISS

 

The ISS orbits the planet every 90 minutes at 28,000 km/h and is only visible for up to seven minutes with each fly-by, usually just before dawn or just after dusk when the sun glints off of it.

 

Citizens can use NASA's Spot the Station app or ISS Detector to find the best viewing time and spot. For Delhi and other Indian metros, there are a number of opportunities to spot the ISS in the coming days, and there is likely to be another viewing window between July 24 and August 1.

 

A Symbol of International Cooperation

 

The ISS is the epitome of global collaboration, constructed and maintained by US, Russian, European, Japanese, and Canadian space agencies. It has welcomed 23 nationalities of astronauts and has accommodated more than 4,400 science experiments, acting as an orbital laboratory and proof of human innovation. As Shukla orbits overhead, he has made impassioned appeals for Indians to rally behind his cause by gazing up and waving to the soaring station—a moment of national amazement and pride to be shared.

 

Sources: NDTV, Republic World, Times of India, The Hans India, Economic Times