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Explanation: What if you were followed around by a cute floating ball that kept taking your picture? Then you might be an astronaut on today's International Space Station (ISS). Designed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the JEM Internal Ball Camera -- informally "Int-Ball" -- is a bit larger than a softball, can float and maneuver by itself but also be controlled remotely, can take high resolution images and videos, and is not related to Hello Kitty. Int-Ball was delivered to the ISS in early June and is designed to allow ground-control to increase the monitoring of ISS equipment and activities while decreasing time demands on human astronauts. Int-Ball moves by turning on small internal fans and sees with a camera located between its two dark eyes.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: ISS
Publications with words: ISS
See also:
- APOD: 2025 May 21 B International Space Station Crosses the Sun
- The ISS Meets Venus
- Galaxies in Space
- APOD: 2025 January 5 B Rocket Launch as Seen from the International Space Station
- APOD: 2023 November 19 B Space Station, Solar Prominences, Sun
- Planet Earth at Night II
- APOD: 2023 June 12 B The Largest Satellites of Earth