More ISS views of the ball Earth in space! Weekly random highlights part 2.

Disclaimer: I did not take or make these pictures myself. All images were created by NASA and are public domain.

These pics are unedited straight from the ISS live feeds. I try to watch at least once a day and take a screenshot the minute I start the stream, provided there is actually an image on the screen. Then I post my best captures for you to be amazed at the beautiful images from the magic falling tin can in space!

Looks like they fixed the "HD" cam or maybe they took it back to the dollar store for a refund? At least it's not doing the streaking image all the way across the screen thing that it was doing for weeks.

Rare shot of land in "HD"! I had to include this even though it wasn't a random picture. I think I can see my house.

You paid for this.

Your tax dollars at work.

Sunrise! or sunset?

As good as it gets.

Purple planet.

This week's discussion point will be cameras. Seeing as it's 2017 and HD cameras are cheap and packed with features, why does the ISS use camera's that wouldn't be fit for a cell phone from 10 years ago? Surely cost can't be a factor, since even a very specialized camera that cost a couple million dollars wouldn't make a dent in NASA's 52 million a day budget. How about a camera that can automatically adjust for lighting conditions, so they could get things like the stars, moon, passing satellites in the images? I think we are all sick of seeing endless clouds against a purple Earth. At 400 km up we should be able to see the Earth in great detail, with a proper camera. Maybe there is just an issue with fixing or replacing the cameras? I don't really believe this though, since I've seen them risk their lives in a spacewalk, just to replace a multiplexor/demultiplexor that could have probably done a lot more mutiplexing before needing replacing, in my opinion. What do you think about the cameras on the ISS? Should we continue to make excuses on their behalf, or should we demand better from our publicly funded space agency? Let me know in the comments!