NASA astronaut filmed hurricane Milton as it crossed the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday. Images captured from the International Space Station have gone viral on social media.
“We flew over the hurricane Milton about 90 minutes ago. This is the view from the window of Dragon Endeavor. Expect a lot of images from this porthole, because this is where I sleep while waiting for undocking and return to Earth,” American astronaut Matthew Dominick told X on Tuesday morning.
The video of the hurricane, shot and published from space, was viewed more than 2.4 million times in just a few hours.
Hundreds of Internet users commented on the publication to thank the American for his initiative.
“It is difficult to get a sense of the size and power of these storms. Thank you for sharing your point of view with us!”, commented one of them.
• Also read: Up to 4.5 meters of water: this is how Hurricane “Milton” could wreak havoc in Florida
Return to Earth postponed
Matthew Dominick is part of a team of four astronauts whose return flight to Earth was pushed back a few days due to Milton, which is expected to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday evening.
NASA and SpaceX had planned the departure of the Crew-8 mission from the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday morning. However, the capsule in which the astronauts will sit must land off the coast of Florida.
Barely two weeks after the hurricane Helene, Milton is approaching the American East Coast with winds of more than 250 km/h.
On Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said the hurricane could raise water as much as 15 feet (more than 4.5 meters) in the Tampa Bay area.
Many coastal towns in neighboring regions could also experience significant flooding, authorities warn.
• Also read: Here’s the reason why Florida will be increasingly ravaged by hurricanes
