Celestron Telescope Begins Terrestrial Observation Onboard International Space Station

Remote-controlled imaging telescope will play a key role in NASA’s SERVIR mission to further environmental research. 

International Space Station (January 18, 2013) – The astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) just got that much closer to Earth with their latest crew member: a Celestron CPC 925. After arriving at the ISS in July 2012 onboard the Japanese HTV-3, the telescope—the latest component of ISERV (ISS SERVIR Environmental Research and Visualization System)—officially joined Expedition 34 and NASA’s SERVIR mission on Wednesday, January 16.

Canadian astronaut Colonel Chris Hadfield enthusiastically announced the installation of ISERV on his Twitter account: “Taking the telescope out of the box—like weightless Christmas!” Accompanying the tweets was a photo of the telescope floating next to Col. Hadfield’s beaming visage.

Celestron's 9.25” diffraction limited Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope is positioned within the Destiny module’s Earth-facing window. While remotely controlled from the planet’s surface, ISERV will monitor and assess environmental disasters, climate change, rainforest destruction, and air quality in various locations around the globe. It will also aid in short-term weather prediction.

“Images captured from ISERV on the ISS could provide valuable information back here on Earth,” explained Dan Irwin, SERVIR program director at Marshall Space Flight Center. “We hope it will provide new data and information from space related to natural disasters, environmental crises, and the increased effects of climate variability on human populations."

“ISERV will help advance Earth science research. We are all very excited and proud to see Celestron’s telescope assisting NASA’s quest for knowledge,” explained Corey Lee, Senior Vice President of Product Development at Celestron.

About Celestron
Celestron is a leading designer, manufacturer, and importer of high-quality optical products including computerized and non-computerized telescopes and related accessories, GPS devices, binoculars, spotting scopes, and microscopes. Since manufacturing its first telescope in 1960, Celestron has grown to become the world's #1 telescope maker, and enjoys brand-name recognition among serious amateur astronomers for superior optics, outstanding design, and innovative technology. Celestron’s extraordinary products continue to receive numerous industry and consumer media accolades, adding to an already impressive list that includes awards for product innovation from Reader's Digest, Popular Science, PC Magazine, Popular Mechanics, the Consumer Electronics Association, and more. Celestron is a privately-held company with corporate offices and manufacturing facilities in Torrance, California.