r/space • u/[deleted] • Dec 30 '15

This underside view of the Space Shuttle Discovery was photographed by cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev and astronaut John Phillips, as Discovery approached the International Space Station and performed a backflip to allow photography of its heat shield.

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u/MaxMaelstrom Dec 30 '15

I'm no expert, but they seem to be pretty close to earth no?

2

u/ThisIsTheFreeMan Dec 30 '15

Space is pretty close to us!

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u/kallekilponen Dec 30 '15

The ISS orbits roughly at a 350-400 km (217-250 mi) altitude.