" Houston, Texas, the Lone Star State's largest city with a metropolitan population of about 7.12 million, is pictured at approximately 2:52 a.m. local time from the International Space Station as it orbited 260 miles above. Houston is ringed by three main beltways including the innermost I-610, followed by the Sam Houston Tollway, and the outermost Grand Parkway which will be the longest beltway in the U.S. upon completion." (NASA, NASA)
From hundreds of miles above Earth, Houston looks both familiar and extraordinary.
Images captured from the International Space Station in 2018 and 2025 offer a unique view of the nation’s fourth-largest city — during the day and after dark.
In daylight, waterways across southeast Texas stand out. The Brazos River, Buffalo Bayou and Clear Lake can be traced toward Galveston Bay.
"Houston, Texas, the home of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, and Galveston Bay are pictured from the space station at an altitude of about 250 miles." (NASA)
After sunset, Houston’s vast footprint becomes even more visible. City lights outline major roadways, including Interstate 610, the Sam Houston Tollway and the Grand Parkway.
From orbit, the images show just how far Space City stretches.
" Houston, Texas, the Lone Star State's largest city with a metropolitan population of about 7.12 million, is pictured at approximately 2:52 a.m. local time from the International Space Station as it orbited 260 miles above. Houston is ringed by three main beltways including the innermost I-610, followed by the Sam Houston Tollway, and the outermost Grand Parkway which will be the longest beltway in the U.S. upon completion." (NASA)
Copyright 2026 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.
I am grateful for the opportunity to share the captivating tales of weather, climate, and science within a community that has undergone the same transformative moments that have shaped my own life.