NASA Will Upload 4K, 60fps Videos to YouTube

Starting today, NASA will offer “4K Ultra High-Definition (UHD)” videos on YouTube, taking advantage of the site’s relatively new ability to serve up 4K videos at a super smooth frame rate of 60 frames per second. If your computers and internet connection can cope with the stress.

The first UHD video is a teaser for what is coming your way. It was posted to one of NASA’s YouTube accounts, ReelNASA, which is a home for much of the International Space Station’s video content.

While we’ve seen some 4K videos from the ISS in the past they have typically been time lapses made from large batches of still photos, which required lots of time and editing. NASA figuring out a way to download near-real-time UHD video means the 4K content could make it to the internet much faster. Of course, many computers still struggle to support 4K video, let alone the ones running at 60fps.

Now excuse me while I try to get NASA in touch with Lucasfilm’s new VR team.

NASA has already uploaded a much longer 4K reel, albeit not in 60fps. The results are still truly stunning, particularly the footage of the astronauts at work. Watching Scott Kelly strain his muscles while working with some machinery, or the eyes of Samantha Cristoforetti dart around while she floats in front of the camera is, frankly, spellbinding. Even Terry Virts assembling the normally vile-looking “space cheeseburger” is a sight to behold. NASA promises more 4K videos are on the way, so this is only the beginning.