The United States' NASA announced on September 11, Friday, that it would add 4K resolution video streaming to its TV channel on November 1. Building on its ultra-high definition (UHD) YouTube page launched this summer, he new television channel will feature high-resolution images and footage of outer space from ongoing missions including the International Space Station (ISS) and Hubble Space Telescope; and remastered historical missions, which could include the Apollo 11 space shuttle's voyage to the moon.
The National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) will be teaming up with Harmonic Inc. to launch the TV channel. It develops equipment to provide video content through the Internet and televisions.
Harmonic is negotiating with pay TV providers in order to broadcast the NASA channel through cable, fiber optics, and satellites, according to Engadget. It will also stream over the Internet.
The partners have described the new channel as providing the experience of looking out of an ISS Cupola (dome-shaped roof), according to MultiChannel. Its content will later include live spacecraft launches.
NASA stated on its YouTube page that the new service will show the most spectacular views of planet Earth and the ISS's activities. This will fulfill the dreams of wannabe astronauts.
The U.S. space agency claimed that its new TV channel will be unique. It wrote that it will be North America's first non-commercial UHD channel for shoppers.
The Consumer Electronic Association announced the technical specs of UHD resolution in October 2012. TV sets with such displays must have an aspect (width-height) ratio of 16:9, and resolution of at least 3840 x 2160 pixels.
This video shows nighttime footage of Earth from the International Space Station: