In this episode of Smarter Every Day, host Destin Sandlin takes a closer look at the construction of one of the most exclusive photography locations that humans have ever created: the International Space Station’s Cupola module. This seven-windowed observation module has allowed astronauts such as Dr. Don Pettit and others access to shoot some of the most incredible photographs and time-lapse videos made to date.
One of the essential features within the Cupola is the shutter window system. As you can imagine, the ISS module faces slightly a few more difficulties than your neighborhood’s photography studio. It requires protection from micrometeorites and radiation, therefore by using shutters the chamber can be protected and insulated. Smarter Every Day interviews Astronaut Don Pettit where we get an overview of how the shutter system works and how it was made, which Pettit then boils down to three choice words: “real good engineering.”
Some of the breathtaking footage captured from within the Cupola.
Following this fascinating overview, Sandlin tracks down Charlie Vanvalkenburgh, one of the genius engineers working on the ISS project 20 years ago. From an old engineering drawing package, Sandlin is blown away to figure out how the mechanical shutter system operates. The video ends with Italian Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti amidst some Canon gear inside the ISS' Cupola giving an awesome demonstration of how it actually works in space.
[via Reddit]
