At the end of 2009, Nikon managed to secure the order from NASA for D3S digital cameras and seven of its AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED lenses were destined to be whisked off into space for photographic documentation.Now, world are being given the chance to have a look at some of the rather spectacular images taken by astronauts on the International Space Station. Up till now, NASA has captured more than 700,000 images with its own Nikon equipment, showing off the D3S’ noise suppression features and to cope with the low-light conditions of space.
With the supporting standard ISO sensitivity settings of 200 to 12800, the D3S can also be set as high as Hi 3 (ISO 102400 equivalent) or as low as Lo 1 (ISO 100 equivalent). As well as exhibiting a selection of its most inspiring images, NASA has also given a list of kit currently circling the Earth. At present, the Nikon products kept aboard the ISS include:
• 1 unmodified, standard consumer Nikon D3S digital-SLR camera (whose goal is to capture images of the surface of the earth and night-time scenes)
• 8 Nikon D2Xs digital-SLR cameras (modified)
• 36 NIKKOR lenses that includes three teleconverters
• 7 SB-800 Speedlights
• 4 D2Xs eyepieces (that are made exclusively for NASA to enable viewing through a space helmet)
More recently, in 2008 a shipment of D2Xs dSLR cameras were ordered, eight of those original bodies are still used in space today.
http://technisky.blogspot.com/2010/07/nasa-releases-low-light-space-images.html