Looking down from the Cupola observatory on the International Space Station, ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti took this timelapse of a cloudless Italy and Egypt from 400 km above Earth.

Circling Earth at speeds of 28 800 km/h, the 3500 km flight took Samantha less than eight minutes. Images from a Space Station camera were joined together to create this video and make the flight seem even faster.

The astronauts on the Space Station spend as much time as possible on science. During her 40-hour working week Samantha runs many experiments from Italy’s ASI space agency and ESA, and takes part in even more from scientists all over the world.

Samantha is living and working on board the International Space Station as part of the six-strong Expedition 42 and 43 crew. Follow her Futura mission at samanthacristoforetti.esa.int.