ESA astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski has released breathtaking timelapse footage of Earth and the Moon, captured during his stay aboard the International Space Station as part of the Ignis mission. Filmed from the station’s Cupola module, the videos offer a rare, fast-motion glimpse of Earth’s dynamic atmosphere and the Moon’s silent passage through space.
The footage was recorded during Uznański-Wiśniewski’s 20-day participation in Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), launched on June 25, 2025, aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Though the video content quickly drew public attention, it represents only one facet of the mission.
In parallel with his visual documentation, Uznański-Wiśniewski was tasked with conducting a wide range of scientific activities during his brief but intensive time in orbit. The Ignis mission was designed to advance collaborative research between ESA and Polish institutions.
A Visual Experience Filmed From The Cupola
Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski’s timelapses were filmed from the Cupola, the ISS’s seven-windowed observation module that offers a panoramic view of Earth and surrounding space. According to ESA, the footage showcases a variety of phenomena visible from orbit, including shifting cloud formations, atmospheric glows, and the Moon rising over Earth’s curvature.
The clips were later released through ESA’s official multimedia platform and highlight not just the technical capabilities of modern orbital photography, but also the emotional and aesthetic resonance of viewing Earth from space. As reported by the statement, the video segments were captured over several orbits, condensing extended periods into just over nine minutes of edited visuals.
A New National Push for Science
The Ignis mission carried a significant research component. Based on information from the European space body, Uznański-Wiśniewski carried out 13 experiments from Polish research institutions, along with three ESA-led investigations. These covered human physiology, materials science, biotechnology, and technology demonstrations.
“The Ax-4 mission marks the second commercial human spaceflight for an ESA project astronaut. Ignis was sponsored by the Polish government and supported by ESA, the Polish Ministry of Economic Development and Technology (MRiT) and the Polish Space Agency (POLSA). ”
ESA indicated that the studies aimed to support long-term scientific goals while also helping to test technologies for upcoming missions.