Crew Dragon has never shone brighter. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. A new video from humanity's largest orbital laboratory is a good reminder of why spaceflight continues to captivate us. In this one-minute clip posted to X from the International Space Station (ISS) social media account, SpaceX's Crew Dragon Freedom can be seen docked against the backdrop of the Milky Way. The arm of our galaxy that's visible to us then gradually fades as the sunlight reflected off the spacecraft brightens to a blinding white. The ISS travels in low-Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of about 260 miles (420 kilometers) and an average speed of 17,150 miles per hour (27,600 kilometers per hour). It completes an orbit around the planet once every 90 minutes. Pertaining to the transition between Earth's light and dark sides, astronauts aboard the space station experience 16 sunrises and sunsets every day — so, if astronauts aboard the station don't happen to be near a window to catch the view, they never have long to wait before it comes back around again. You may like June full moon shines on SpaceX Dragon | Space photo of the day for June 12, 2025