Interior Space: A Visual Exploration of the International Space Station

Interior Space Gallery

Book: Interior Space: A Visual Exploration of the International Space Station

Interior Space is a collaborative project by Roland Miller and Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli, aimed at documenting and interpreting the interior of the International Space Station (ISS). The project was inspired by NASA astronaut Cady Coleman’s interest in Miller’s photographic exploration of abandoned launch and test facilities from NASA’s early crewed programs, including Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo. The main goal of Interior Space is to preserve the ISS through photographs that reflect its environment and technology. It is essential to create a visual record that captures both the detailed nuances and the broader aspects of the station's interior.

The Interior Space Project began when Coleman encouraged Miller to find a way to share his photographic vision and technical approach with astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Cady was familiar with Miller’s photography of decommissioned and repurposed space launch and test facilities, featured in the project Abandoned in Place. Miller drafted a proposal, which NASA and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) both approved, to collaboratively document the interior of the ISS with an astronaut whom Miller could guide in taking photographs. His goal was to explore the ISS's interior through a mix of documentary and abstract styles, primarily using available-light photography. Cady liked the idea and connected Miller with Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli. As it turned out, Nespoli was the ideal partner for the Interior Space Project, bringing extensive photography experience. 

Miller sent screen captures of the ISS’s interior from Google Street View, along with instructions, to Nespoli while Nespoli was aboard the ISS during Expeditions 52 and 53. Nespoli followed Miller’s directions and, while responding to the ISS’s real-time configuration, used his experience as both an astronaut and a photographer to create the photographs. Miller then digitally processed and prepared the images. Their collaboration produced a unique collection that captures the feeling of being inside the ISS. Miller and Nespoli then worked together to create a book of these images, Interior Space: A Visual Exploration of the International Space Station.

In addition to the collaborative images of the ISS interior, Interior Space includes photographs Paolo took of the Space Shuttle Endeavour docked at the ISS as he departed aboard a Soyuz spacecraft at the end of Expedition 27, and images Miller captured of ISS processing, training, and research facilities across the United States. By combining these Earth-based images with the collaborative photographs Nespoli and Miller took, Interior Space tells a broad visual story of the overall ISS program. All images of the ISS in orbit are courtesy of NASA and ASI.