Astronauts catch glimpse of fireworks as space station orbits over US
Just because NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station are far from home didn't mean they weren't able to celebrate the Fourth of July like the rest of the United States.
In fact, the three Americans living at the iconic orbital outpost were treated to one of the most essential parts of any Independence Day celebration: fireworks. Of course, the light display looked a little different from more than 250 miles above Earth.
Following the holiday weekend, NASA shared a short video showing bursts of fireworks lighting up Los Angeles as the ISS orbited July 4 high in space above the U.S.
What is the International Space Station?
The International Space Station has been stationed in low-Earth orbit for more than 25 years, typically about 260 miles high, where it has been home to astronauts from all over the world. Throughout its lifespan, the station has served as a test bed for scientific research in microgravity and has in years past opened itself up to private commercial missions.
The orbital laboratory is operated through a global partnership of space agencies, including NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.
More than 280 spacefarers from 26 countries have visited the International Space Station, including 170 from the United States alone, according to NASA.
See fireworks from ISS as outpost orbits over US
NASA took to social media Monday, July 6, to share a video of July 4 fireworks taken above Los Angeles as the space station flew over California.
"A celebration so bright it reached all the way to space!" NASA remarked on social media.
In her own social media post, NASA astronaut Jessica Meir – one of three Americans aboard the ISS – wished a "Happy 250th Birthday to the United States of America."
Meir added: "Wishing all a safe and celebratory 4th of July."
What astronauts are on the International Space Station?
Seven astronauts who are part of Expedition 74 are living and working aboard the International Space Station.
That includes four people who are part of a joint NASA and SpaceX mission known as Crew-12 that docked in mid-February. NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, as well as the European Space Agency's Sophie Adenot and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev are due to depart in September following the arrival of Crew-13.
NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Russians Sergey Mikaev and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, who arrived at the end of November on a Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft, will also be at the orbital laboratory until their replacements arrive later in July.
Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Astronauts catch glimpse of fireworks as space station orbits over US
Reporting by Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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This story was originally published July 7, 2026 at 7:37 AM.