Astronaut takes photo of his university from orbit

A university has been emailed a photo of its campus - taken by a former student working as a NASA astronaut on board the International Space Station.

Capt Jack Hathaway snapped the image during an orbit on Saturday and sent it to the vice chancellor of Cranfield University in Bedfordshire the following day.

The former US Navy pilot studied for a Master of Science degree in flight dynamics at the university in 2014.

In his email, the 43-year-old noted that it took some time to take the photograph as he had to wait for the right orbital trajectory - and a clear day of British weather.

Prof Dame Karen Holford, the vice-chancellor, said: "It's absolutely wonderful that Jack thought of us at Cranfield and took the time from his busy schedule to do this.

"It really made me smile thinking of Jack on board the ISS trying to see our campus!"

Hathaway began working for NASA in 2022. In January 2025 the astronaut visited Year 5 pupils at nearby Holywell School.

The pilot is one of four astronauts currently on a Space X-Crew 12 mission on the ISS, which launched on 13 February.

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