I have spent 23 years documenting the global LED transition of city lighting from space. Across my 4 missions to the ISS, I have photographed every major city on Earth, building a data set of the gradual replacement of sodium vapor lighting with LEDs. The warmer, yellow-orange of gas discharge lamps has been phased out worldwide to multi-colored LEDs, citing energy savings and environmental reasons. Widespread adoption has markedly changed the way our cities look from orbit, and as many have pointed out, how they feel to those on the ground! Here is a collection of the most striking before-and-after photos I have observed:

Getting ready to talk more about Darkroom after a long silence! Lots of fun things coming soon.

If an astronaut ever drifts away from the ISS, the "SAFER" pack becomes their lifeline. With just enough fuel to get back safely.

@astro_jessica and Sophie make them “jump jump” with the spacewalk triple jump EVA

Chez ISS - episode deux: The one with the onions. Jack and @astro_jessica slow cooking.

Space station reboots as seen from inside the station & explained by Jack Hathaway.

My favorite mini fig 🤖 Building these blocks in space while my 3.5yo builds the same set on Earth. 🌍 Separated by 250 miles, yet connected like our bricks. I deal with floating, wandering micro bricks in microgravity (gray tape ftw!), while her dad deals with the real danger of finding rogue pieces with his bare feet. We built this set together, block by block. We can’t always share a room to be together, but we can share a common mission. How do you stay close to your kids when you travel for work? Let me know your best long-distance parenting tips below.👇🏽 Special thanks to Kathy Hirsh-Pasek for the inspiration!

.@NASA astronaut Jonny Kim retires from the agency after nearly 10 years and one mission aboard the International Space Station. He will serve as lieutenant commander in the @USNavy. More... go.nasa.gov/4glk25z

Mike Tyson wisely said that everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. We are a tough opponent at NASA and we did have several plans; and we did use all of them last Tuesday to remove the SGANT communications antenna. Round 2 starts tomorrow. Tune in 7am eastern.

Georgia Tech chosen as founding partner for a 10-year Department of War initiative aimed at modernizing textile manufacturing in the United States to support the defense industry. FutureTEX  – which includes $36 million in its first year and has a ceiling of $480 million over a decade – brings together university, industry, government, and nonprofit partners to advance textile manufacturing technologies for military and domestic applications. FutureTEX will champion workforce development and modernization of facilities and equipment to increase U.S. competitiveness. School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) researchers Sundaresan Jayaraman and Sungmee Park will lead Georgia Tech’s efforts. They will work with American manufacturers to capitalize on digital infrastructure and other emerging technologies to make the domestic supply network more robust. Read the announcement: coe.gatech.edu/news/2026/08/…

I was worried I might get used to seeing sights like this. I don’t. This was a moon rise, on an iPhone, during a break from a required workout which is nearby the window. It reminds me to carry that same sense of awe when I return. Also, I can’t wait until we land on the moon again.

My hand-painted cutaway of the Haulcraft from @andorofficial , created for DK's Star Wars: Dawn of Rebellion. Set up from the digital model by @ILMVFX, hand drawn, inked and painted in watercolour. Love this ship - a privilege to create its official cutaway artwork. #StarWars

📸 Behind some of NASA’s most iconic moments are the photographers who captured them. For World Photography Day, meet the people behind the lens at NASA Johnson and explore their stories documenting human spaceflight. Read more: nasa.gov/centers-and-facilit…

Happening now! Tune in to NASA+ at 7:00 am ET to watch @soph_astro venture outside for her first spacewalk, and @astro_anil for his second! They’ll be replacing an @Space_Station communications antenna. Happening now! plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-vide…

These long shadows cast by cumulus clouds (crepuscular rays) at sunrise caught my eye, their straight lines a juxtaposition of sorts among the curves of Earth and its clouds. Mother Nature seems to prefer softer edges.

Cake cutting ceremonies! A @NASA tradition where we get to spend time with the many technical and training teams that make these missions happen - saying thanks, saying bye (for a little) and eating cake.

Dragon window on Earth Moonlight Sonata. Orion’s rise at about 0:45 - speeds changed on Timelapse. 15mm Aperture priority and auto ISO from today.

Timelapse of the ISS Optimal Propellent Maneuver (OPM)! We use this to reorient station's attitude in preparation for docking events. This one occurred over some magnificent Mediterranean city lights!

On Aug. 6, @NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Anil Menon concluded a 6-hour, 27-minute spacewalk. The next spacewalk moves to Aug. 18 for a spacesuit evaluation. More... go.nasa.gov/4fW7qAj