Epic Video of Rocket Launch Captured by the International Space Station

Describing something as out of this world is a bit cliche. But isn't it appropriately used if the actual thing you're describing is taken from way above the Earth's surface? We think so and that's why we're amazed by this video from space.

This video is truly out of this world: Alexander Gerst, an astronaut with the European Space Agency, released an absolutely epic video that captured a rocket leaving Earth and on its way to the ISS.

Resting some 250 miles above the Earth’s surface, the ISS relies upon regularly scheduled rocket-based supply drops to stay functioning. A collaborative effort involving many nations, the ISS is often one of the coolest sources of astrophotography around. We can probably say it has the best vantage point for a view of Earth that humans can access in the whole solar system.

The capture shows the launch of a Russian Soyuz rocket from Kazakhstan on November 16 of this year. Launching from the old Soviet cosmodrome at Baikonur, the rocket lifted “5,652 pounds (2,564 kg) worth of cargo” according to Gizmodo. It is fifteen minutes of footage compressed into one minute.

Depicting the liftoff and separation of the rocket from the booster, the video is really, really clear and, as many have commented, reminiscent of a Hollywood epic.

You can watch Gerst’s video by clicking here. What is striking is not only the detail the video provides, but also the clarity of the picture. It's just an absolutely unreal vista to see and capture.

This isn’t the only awesome space video we have covered recently. The massive Camp Fire wildfires in California are being monitored via satellites which is giving us some perspective on the tragedy we wouldn’t have otherwise had. If you’d like to view those photos, click here. If you’d like to see some epic 5K video of the Earth from space, click here.