As the oil slick from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill continues to encroach on the Gulf Coast, crewmembers of the International Space Station were able to photograph it from their perch more than 200 miles above the Earth.

The image released by NASA and taken by Expedition 23 crewmember and flight engineer Soichi Noguchi clearly show the slick approaching the Mississippi River delta. This image, along with others taken by NASA and NOAA satellites since the explosion in the Gulf of Mexico allow officials to monitor the movement of the slick.

The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig has allowed 5,000 barrels per day to flow into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The original cause of the accident is still unknown however a blow-out preventer designed to stop the flow of oil in the event of an accident apparently did not activate as it should have.

As the slick continues to threaten the coast, its economic impact is already being felt. NOAA has shut down all commercial fishing in a large area between the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana and Pensacola, Florida.

Related (Examiner.com): NOAA and NASA satellites tasked with monitoring Gulf of Mexico oil spill

International Space Station crew captures images of Gulf Oil slick (NASA)

From NASA:

Image above: The Mississippi River Delta and nearby Louisiana coast appear dark in the sunglint. This phenomenon is caused by sunlight reflecting off the water surface, in a mirror-like manner, directly back towards the astronaut observer aboard the International Space Station. The sunglint improves the identification of the oil spill which is creating a different water texture (and therefore a contrast) between the smooth and rougher water of the reflective ocean surface. (NASA)

From their perch hundreds of miles in the air satellites provide an invaluable view of our Earth, most often associated with weather and disasters. With the explosion of BP’s Deepwater Horizon well and the subsequent oil spill, these space faring tools are now tasked with monitoring the oil as it hits the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Satellites from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA began tracking the oil slick soon after the April 20th rig explosion. Since then, they have watched from above as the slick approaches Louisiana and the Mississippi Delta threatening an ecological disaster greater than the Exxon Valdez.

In 2005, NASA and NOAA satellites focused on Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans. Today, once again, they focus on the same area but for a different kind of disaster.

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The satellite imagery provided by the services is crucial to government agencies planning their response to the spill and its clean up. The satellite imagery can provide near real time position information of the slick as it approaches the Gulf Coast ensuring resources are deployed as necessary.

As the slick continues to threaten the Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida coasts in the immediate future, the satellites will continue to train their eyes in the sky on the area.

A change in wind patterns now threatens to shift the oil to the southwest toward the Florida Keys. While unlikely, if it does so and the oil enters the Gulf Stream, there is a threat the oil could impact the United States East Coast.