JAXA and Ricoh released the 2nd phase of 360-degree spherical still images and video captured in outer space:
A compact spherical camera, jointly developed by JAXA and Ricoh based on the RICOH THETA camera, was sent to the International Space Station (ISS) on board “KOUNOTORI8”, a spacecraft used to resupply the space station. The camera was used to capture 360-degree still images and videos from an experimental platform outside the Japanese Experimental Module known as “KIBO”.
During this 2nd phase, three new still images and one video have been added to the 1st phase of images and videos that were released on October 17.
The ISS takes about 90 minutes to complete a single orbit of the Earth. A time-lapse video was taken of images around the Earth for this 2nd phase. You can see how beautiful the Earth is as it rotates, including how clouds and the night appear on the Earth.
Captured spherical still images and video will be released in the JAXA Digital Archives (JDA), which is run by JAXA. These images and video will also be available from THETA LAB, a website run by Ricoh. You can view the images and video from any point of view you wish in all directions of 360° from this website in your web browser.
You can also simulate the experience of being in outer space by viewing these highly realistic spherical images using a VR headset.
