OK, so astronauts in 3D is kind of gimmicky, but also bloody cool. The European Space Agency is using its second generation stereoscopic HD camera to beam a live 3D video stream back to earth for research, and your YouTube viewing pleasure. Grab your crappy red/cyan 3D glasses, and watch after the jump.
Hit the 3D option in the YouTube controls. The 3D video above an August 6 recording of NASA astronaut, Ron Garan, aboard the ISS.
The ESA says it’ll soon have a dedicated 3D YouTube channel and that images from its Erasmus Recording Binocular (ERB-2) camera will also work with the latest 3D-enabled TVs.
ESA’s ERB-2 coordinator Massimo Sabbatini says “The camera could also be used in the future outside the ISS to support the astronauts’ spacewalks or other critical robotic operations. This really felt like being in space with an astronaut by your side.” [ESA]