Burj Khalifa: NASA Astronaut Shares Rare Space Photo of World’s Tallest Building

Burj Khalifa: NASA Astronaut Shares Rare Space Photo of World's Tallest Building
Have you ever considered what the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, looks like from outer space?
NASA astronaut Don Pettit, who is presently stationed on the International Space Station, has taken a remarkable photograph of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. This breathtaking image showcases the renowned skyscraper from a unique vantage point, captivating both space and architecture fans alike.
During his mission aboard the ISS, Pettit shared a stunning nighttime view of Dubai, with the Burj Khalifa gleaming brilliantly. This is not the first time the astronaut has captured images of Earth from space; he frequently shares visuals that inspire wonder and admiration.
Don Pettit, also known as Donald R. Pettit, has a diverse background in astronomy, as noted by NASA. He served as a staff scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico from 1984 to 1996. During his tenure, he was part of the Synthesis Group, which was a presidential commission led by Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Tom Stafford. This group was responsible for developing the technology necessary for a return to the Moon and the exploration of Mars in 1990, as well as contributing to the Space Station Freedom Redesign Team in 1993.
Check out the post here:
Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building from space. pic.twitter.com/qK9rMmPbd7
— Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) February 2, 2025
He undertook his inaugural space mission in 2003, which was succeeded by a second mission in 2008. In 2012, he was sent to the International Space Station on the Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft, launching from Kazakhstan.
In 2024, he embarked on another journey to the International Space Station, this time aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft, alongside Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner.
Burj Khalifa, with a height of 828 meters, was completed over a span of six years. The architectural design was crafted by the Chicago-based firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This iconic skyscraper serves multiple purposes, accommodating a range of commercial, residential, and hospitality enterprises.
“He was a member of the Synthesis Group, a presidential commission led by Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Tom Stafford tasked with assembling the technology to return to the Moon and explore Mars (1990) and the Space Station Freedom Redesign Team (1993),” says NASA.