10 Nikon D5 Cameras Just Arrived on the ISS

Earlier this year, NASA ordered 53 unmodified Nikon D5 DSLR cameras. Now, 10 of them have just landed at the International Space Station as part of the OA-8 Space Station Resupply.

The cameras will be used in orbit for 12 to 18 months. Only the camera bodies have been sent up to the ISS — instead of shipping brand new lenses, NASA will be reusing lenses and accessories already on the ISS that were launched with the Nikon D4 and D2Xs cameras.

The Nikon D5 cameras make up only a small part of the 7,400 lbs (3,350 kg) of cargo sent up on this mission.

We have liftoff! The Nikon D5 launched on its first mission into space! Ten Nikon D5 cameras are aboard the OA-8 mission to resupply the @ISS and will be used to capture images from orbit high above Earth. #NASA #orbitalatk #antares #cygnus #internationalspacestation #space #astronaut #outerspace #D5 #NikonNoFilter #NikonLove #NikonD5

A post shared by NikonUSA (@nikonusa) on Nov 13, 2017 at 7:27am PST

Nikon DSLR cameras are being used to record images of both internal and external activities on the ISS.

The D5 will soon be used to shoot more photos like these, which were shot with existing Nikon DSLRs: