Astronaut captures lightning footage from space

NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman has captured incredible footage of lightning flashing over Houston, Texas while orbiting the earth from space.

Wiseman uploaded the footage to this Vine account and has been documenting his voyage since being assigned to fly to the International Space Station in May.

Uploads to his account have included a photograph of hectic air traffic above Europe and a video of a "Moonlight cruise over the Pacific at 28,000kph".

The footage was uploaded during Lightning Awareness Week.

On average 51 people are killed by lighting in the United States each year.

He is expected to complete his expedition and return to Earth before November.