‘Satellite selfies’ are a thing now

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Employees from Israel Aerospace Industries gathered for a group photo taken by one of its satellites. Photo: IAI satellite EROS B
Employees from Israel Aerospace Industries gathered for a group photo taken by one of its satellites. Photo: IAI satellite EROS B

If a selfie stick can’t help you get everyone in your group photo, use a satellite.

Of course you would have to build, own and launch your own, which was no problem for Israel Aerospace Industries, whose employees this week gathered for what they called a “space selfie” shot by one of its satellites passing over head.

IAI employees arranged themselves to form the company acronym and looked up for the minute its EROS B satellite was scheduled for a flyby. While the letters are sharp, there are no discernible “cheese” smiles in the black and white photo.

Artist's view of the deployed EROS-B spacecraft. Photo: ImageSat International
Artist’s view of the deployed EROS-B spacecraft. Photo: ImageSat International

It was a departure from EROS B’s usual duties – keeping an eye on Iran’s developing nuclear program. The satellite’s high-resolution imaging capabilites are designed to monitor disasters and changes in infrastructure, including “illegal” construction.

The family photo, with more than 300 in the frame, was made to kick off Israeli Space Week, which is timed to coincide with the anniversary of the death of that county’s first astronaut, Ilan Ramon, who died Feb. 1, 2003 aboard the space shuttle Columbia when it broke apart during re-entry.

“The IAI employees were excited to take part in the experience,” company spokesperson Noga Nadler-Moses was quoted as saying in Arutz Sheva 7. “It let them feel that they were part of something bigger, connected to Space Week.”

IAI was formed in 1953, five years after Israel became a state. It was established to aid in that country’s defense, modifying fighter and commercial aircraft, helicopters, missles and developing battle-tough electronics systems, according to the IAI website.

Space Week ended Thursday with the inauguration of the Israel Space Academy, where a new generation of astronauts will train.

https://youtu.be/GsFk1yCbHQk

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