Space Shuttle Missions

Images of various components of space shuttle missions, featuring instruments in payload bays and Earth as a backdrop, showcasing technology and exploration.

51F-33-024 (29 July-6 Aug 1985) --- The Challenger's remote manipulator system (RMS) arm grasps the plasma diagnostics package (PDP) over the experiment-laden cargo bay of the earth orbiting spacecraft. The instrument pointing system, in a resting mode here, is prominent in the bay.

NASA's SIR-C/X-SAR is shown here in the payload bay of the orbiting space shuttle Endeavour (STS-59), with an area of the Pacific Ocean northeast of Hawaii in the background.

In this photograph, the instruments of the Astro-1 Observatory are erected in the cargo bay of the Columbia orbiter. Astro-1 was launched aboard the the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia (STS-35) mission on December 2, 1990. .

Onboard the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia (STS-35), the various components of the Astro-1 payload are seen backdropped against a blue and white Earth. Parts of the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope (HUT), the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UIT), and the Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-Polarimetry Experiment (WUPPE) are visible on the Spacelab pallet. The Broad-Band X-Ray Telescope (BBXRT) is behind the pallet and is not visible in this scene. The smaller cylinder in the foreground is the igloo. The igloo was a pressurized container housing the Command Data Management System, that interfaced with the in-cabin controllers to control the Instrument Pointing System (IPS) and the telescopes. The Astro Observatory was designed to explore the universe by observing and measuring the ultraviolet radiation from celestial objects. Astronomical targets of observation selected for Astro missions included planets, stars, star clusters, galaxies, clusters of galaxies, quasars, remnants of exploded stars (su

STS043-72-002 (2 Aug 1991) --- The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-E), leaves the payload bay of the earth-orbiting Atlantis a mere six hours after the Space Shuttle was launched from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. TDRS, built by TRW, will be placed in a geosynchronous orbit and after on-orbit testing, which requires several weeks, will be designated TDRS-5. The communications satellite will replace TDRS-3 at 174 degrees West longitude. The backbone of NASA's space-to-ground communications, the Tracking and Data Relay satellites have increased NASA's ability to send and receive data to spacecraft in low-earth orbit to more than 85 percent of the time. The five astronauts of the STS 43 mission are John E. Blaha, mission commander, Michael A. Baker, pilot, and Shannon W. Lucid, G. David Low, and James C. Adamson, all mission specialists.

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-56) onboard photo of the Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science (ATLAS-2) payload on the pallet in the cargo bay of the orbiter.

STS040-610-010 (5-14 June 1991) --- The blue and white Earth forms the backdrop for this scene of the Spacelab Life Sciences (SLS-1) module in the cargo bay of the Earth-orbiting Columbia. The view was photographed through Columbia's aft flight deck windows with a handheld Rolleiflex camera. Seven crewmembers spent nine days in space aboard Columbia. Part of the tunnel/airlock system that linked them to the SLS-1 module is seen in center foreground.

STS043-72-059 (2 Aug 1991) --- The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-E), leaves the payload bay of the earth-orbiting Atlantis a mere six hours after the Space Shuttle was launched from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. TDRS, built by TRW, will be placed in a geosynchronous orbit and after on-orbit testing, which requires several weeks, will be designated TDRS-5. The communications satellite will replace TDRS-3 at 174 degrees West longitude. The backbone of NASA's space-to-ground communications, the Tracking and Data Relay satellites have increased NASA's ability to send and receive data to spacecraft in low-earth orbit to more than 85 percent of the time. The five astronauts of the STS 43 mission are John E. Blaha, mission commander, Michael A. Baker, pilot, and Shannon W. Lucid, G. David Low, and James C. Adamson, all mission specialists.

51F-33-024 (29 July-6 Aug 1985) --- The Challenger's remote manipulator system (RMS) arm grasps the plasma diagnostics package (PDP) over the experiment-laden cargo bay of the earth orbiting spacecraft. The instrument pointing system, in a resting mode here, is prominent in the bay.

STS097-715-090 (30 Nov.-11 Dec. 2000) --- The horizon of a blue and white Earth and the blackness of space form the backdrop for this view of the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle Endeavour, as seen through windows on the aft flight deck during the STS-97 mission. Pictured in the cargo bay is the Orbital Docking System (ODS) in the foreground. In its stowed position at right center of the frame is the Canadian-built Remote Manipulator System (RMS) arm.

41C-37-1715 (11 April 1984) --- A scenic panorama is captured by an onboard 70mm handheld camera during the April 11, 1984, Solar Maximum Mission Satellite (SMMS) repair job aboard the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger. The SMMS is temporarily docked at the Challenger's Flight Support System (FSS) so that astronauts George D. Nelson and James D. van Hoften could perform a series of repair tasks. The Remote Manipulator System (RMS) arm was used to move the astronauts into position for their series of chores. Note the gibbous Moon to the right of center and the horizon of the blue and white Earth in the lower right quadrant.

51I-32-023 (27 Aug. 1985) --- Australia's AUSSAT communications satellite is deployed from the payload bay of the space shuttle Discovery on flight day one. A portion of the cloudy surface of Earth can be seen to the left of the frame.

Astronaut in space over Earth planet. Elements of this image furnished by NASA. Mixed media. Exploring outer space. Mixed media

S84-27023 (7 Feb 1984) --- This 70mm frame shows astronaut Bruce McCandless II moving in to conduct a test involving the Trunion Pin Attachment Device (TPAD) he carries and the Shuttle Pallet Satellite (SPAS-01A) partially visible at bottom of frame. SPAS was a stand-in for the damaged Solar Maximum Satellite (SMS) which will be visited for repairs by the STS-41C Shuttle crew in early spring. This particular Extravehicular Activity (EVA) session was a rehearsal for the SMS visit. The test and the actual visit to the SMS both involve the use of jet-powered, hand-controlled Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU). The one McCandless uses is the second unit to be tested on this flight. Astronaut Robert L. Stewart got a chance to work with both MMU's on the two EVA's.

S103-E-5206 --- Astronauts Steven L. Smith (right), payload commander, andJohn M. Grunsfeld use the Canadian-built remote manipulator system (RMS) robot arm to perform servicing tasks on the temporarily-captured Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The photo was taken with an electronic still camera (ESC).

STS085-722-087 (7 - 19 August 1997) --- The Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere-Shuttle Pallet Satellite-2 (CRISTA-SPAS-2) having just been grappled by the Space Shuttle Discovery's Remote Manipulator System (RMS), is backdropped against Puget Sound and the Seattle, Washington area. A short while later, the satellite was re-berthed in the cargo bay, silhouetted in this 70mm frame. This image was exposed through the aft flight deck windows of Discovery.

Astronauts Jerry L. Ross (left) and Sherwood C. (Woody) Spring are photographed as they assemble pieces of the Experimental Assembly of Structures in Extravehicular Activities (EASE) device in the open payload bay. The Canadian-built remote manipulator system (RMS) arm (partially obscured in the right portion of the frame) is in position to allow television cameras to record the activity.

. iss069e054011 (Aug. 4, 2023) --- Northrop Grumman's Cygnus cargo craft is pictured moments after it was captured by the Canadarm2 robotic arm controlled by NASA astronaut and Expedition 69 Flight Engineer Woody Hoburg from inside the International Space Station.

Anchored on the end of orbiter Endeavour's remote manipulator system arm, astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman (foreground) prepares to install the new wide field planetary camera into the empty cavity of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Astronaut Story Musgrave works with a portable foot restraint.

STS071-S-075 (4 July 1995) --- This view of the space shuttle Atlantis beginning its move away from Russia's Mir Space Station was photographed by the Mir-19 crew on July 4, 1995. Cosmonauts Anatoliy Y. Solovyev and Nikolai M. Budarin, Mir-19 commander and flight engineer, respectively, temporarily undocked the Soyuz spacecraft from the cluster of Mir elements to perform a brief fly-around. They took pictures while the STS-71 crew, with Mir-18's three crew members aboard, undocked from Atlantis for the completion of this leg of the joint activities. Solovyev and Budarin had been taxied to the Mir Space Station by the STS-71 ascent trip of Atlantis.

The STS-111 mission, the 14th Shuttle mission to visit the International Space Station (ISS), was launched on June 5, 2002 aboard the Space Shuttle Orbiter Endeavour. On board were the STS-111 and Expedition Five crew members. Astronauts Kerneth D. Cockrell, commander; Paul S. Lockhart, pilot, and mission specialists Franklin R. Chang-Diaz and Philippe Perrin were the STS-111 crew members. Expedition Five crew members included Cosmonaut Valeri G. Korzun, commander, Astronaut Peggy A. Whitson and Cosmonaut Sergei Y. Treschev, flight engineers. Three space walks enabled the STS-111 crew to accomplish mission objectives The delivery and installation of the Mobile Remote Servicer Base System (MBS), an important part of the Station's Mobile Servicing System that allows the robotic arm to travel the length of the Station, which is necessary for future construction tasks; the replacement of a wrist roll joint on the Station's robotic arm; and the task of unloading supplies and science experim

S65-63171 (15 Dec. 1965) --- The Gemini-7 spacecraft as seen from the Gemini-6 spacecraft during their rendezvous mission in space.

This photograph shows the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (GRO) being deployed by the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) arm aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis during the STS-37 mission in April 1991. The GRO reentered Earth atmosphere and ended its successful mission in June 2000. For nearly 9 years, the GRO Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE), designed and built by the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), kept an unblinking watch on the universe to alert scientists to the invisible, mysterious gamma-ray bursts that had puzzled them for decades. By studying gamma-rays from objects like black holes, pulsars, quasars, neutron stars, and other exotic objects, scientists could discover clues to the birth, evolution, and death of stars, galaxies, and the universe. The gamma-ray instrument was one of four major science instruments aboard the Compton. It consisted of eight detectors, or modules, located at each corner of the rectangular satellite to simultaneously scan the entire univers

STS006-45-111 (7 April 1983) --- Astronaut Donald H. Peterson (port side) and F. Story Musgrave, STS-6 mission specialists, evaluate the handrail system on the starboard longeron and aft bulkhead, respectively, during a long extravehicular activity (EVA) aboard the Earth-orbiting space shuttle Challenger. The vertical stabilizer and orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pods frame a portion of Mexicos state of Jalisco below. Punta Farallon and Sahta da Tencatita, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) south of Puerto Vallarta, are visible. Pacific waters form about half of the backdrop for this scene, photographed by one of two crew members who remained inside the spacecraft during the EVA. Astronaut Karol J. Bobko, pilot, took a number of pictures of his fellow crew members during their outside tasks and astronaut Paul J. Weitz, commander, took some photographs while remaining in command of the reusable vehicle.

STS080-708-084 (19 Nov.-7 Dec. 1996) --- Backdropped against the blackness of space and a cloud covered portion of Earth, the Wake Shield Facility (WSF) is turned loose by the space shuttle Columbia's Remote Manipulator System (RMS) to begin a period of free-flight. The image was photographed with a handheld 70mm camera aimed through windows on Columbia's aft flight deck.

STS109-328-026 (5 March 2002) --- Perched on the end of the Columbia's remote manipulator system (RMS) arm,astronaut Michael J. Massimino, removes the old solar array on the port side of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Astronauts Massimino and James H. Newman went on to replace the array with a new one. A day earlier, two other astronauts accomplished the same feat on the starboard side.

Gemini VI

(13 Dec. 1972) --- Earth appears in the far distant background above the hi-gain antenna of the Lunar Roving Vehicle in this photograph taken by scientist-astronaut Harrison H. Schmitt during the third Apollo 17 extravehicular activity (EVA) at the Taurus-Littrow landing site.

December 15, 1965 - This photograph of the Gemini-Titan 7 (GT-7) spacecraft was taken from the Gemini-Titan 6 (GT-6) spacecraft during the historic rendezvous of the two spacecraft. The two spacecraft are some 37 feet apart here. Earth can be seen below.

S89-42940 (April 1989) --- In this artist's rendition, the Galileo spacecraft is being boosted into its inter-planetary trajectory by the Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) rocket. The Space Shuttle Atlantis, which is scheduled to take Galileo and the IUS from Earth's surface into space, is depicted against the curve of Earth. Galileo will be placed on a trajectory to Venus, from which it will return to Earth at higher velocity and then gain still more energy in two gravity-assist passes, until it has enough velocity to reach Jupiter. Passing Venus, it will take scientific data using instruments designed for observing Jupiter; later, it will make measurements at Earth and the moon, crossing above the moon's north pole in the second pass. Between the two Earth passes, it will edge into the asteroid belt, beyond Mars' orbit; there, the first close-up observation of an asteroid is planned. Crossing the belt later, another asteroid flyby is possible.

S66-46124 (18 July 1966) --- Agena Target Docking Vehicle 5005 is photographed from the Gemini-10 spacecraft during rendezvous in space. The two spacecraft are about 41 feet apart. After docking with the Agena, astronauts John W. Young, command pilot, and Michael Collins, pilot, fired the 16,000-pound thrust engine of Agena-10's primary propulsion system to boost the combined vehicles into an orbit with an apogee of 413 nautical miles to set a new altitude record for manned spaceflight.

STS071-741-057 (27 June-7 July 1995) --- Docked already with Russia's Mir Space Station, the space shuttle Atlantis' aft cargo bay and Spacelab science module are visible through a window on the Mir Space Station. A 70mm camera, carried into space by the STS-71 crew aboard Atlantis, was used to expose the image. The linkup enabled the seven STS-71 crew members to visit Mir and it allowed the three Mir-18 crew members, in space since March of this year, access to Spacelab. That module was quite busy with tests and data collection involving the three until Atlantis brought them home on July 7, 1995.

STS060-74-054 (3-11 Feb 1994) --- The Wake Shield Facility (WSF) is held in the grasp of Discovery's Remote Manipulator System (RMS). The 70mm image, backdropped against the blackness of space, also shows the SPACEHAB module in the forward cargo area.

A NASA Langley Research Center HL-20 Docked at Space Station Freedom. HL-20 will Transport Astronauts to/from Low Orbit

Space Shuttle Columbia orbiting earth

Astronaut in space over Earth planet. Elements of this image furnished by NASA. Mixed media. Exploring outer space. Mixed media

STS077-711-054 (21 May 1996) --- The Spartan 207 free flyer is held in the grasp of the Remote Manipulator System (RMS). As photographed through an overhead window on the Space Shuttle Endeavours aft flight deck, the satellite is backdropped against a heavily sunglinted horizon over the Middle East. The Spartan was re-captured by the six crew members on May 21, 1996 following a period of free-flight. The Endeavour crew spent a portion of the flight time in various activities involving the Spartan 207 and the related Inflatable Antenna Experiment (IAE). The Spartan project is managed by NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center for NASAs Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C.

STS052-71-057 (22 Oct-1 Nov 1992) --- This 70mm frame, photographed with a handheld Hasselblad camera aimed through Columbia's aft flight deck windows, captures the operation of the Space Vision System (SVS) experiment above the cargo bay. Target dots have been placed on the Canadian Target Assembly (CTA), a small satellite, in the grasp of the Canadian-built remote manipulator system (RMS) arm. SVS utilized a Shuttle TV camera to monitor the dots strategically arranged on the satellite, to be tracked. As the satellite moved via the arm, the SVS computer measured the changing position of the dots and provided real-time television display of the location and orientation of the CTA. This type of displayed information is expected to help an operator guide the RMS or the Mobile Servicing System (MSS) of the future when berthing or deploying satellites. Also visible in the frame is the U.S. Microgravity Payload (USMP-01).

Astronauts Jeffrey Hoffman and Story Musgrave install the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) on the Hubble Space Telescope, during SM1 in December, 1993.

S66-54454 (13 Sept. 1966) --- Astronaut Richard F. Gordon Jr., pilot for the Gemini-11 spaceflight, returns to the hatch of the spacecraft following extravehicular activity (EVA). This picture was taken over the Atlantic Ocean at approximately 160 nautical miles above Earth's surface.

STS061-95-028 (6 Dec 1993) --- Astronaut Kathryn C. Thornton, on the end of the Space Shuttle Endeavour's Remote Manipulator System (RMS) arm, hovers over equipment associated with servicing chores on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) during the second extravehicular activity (EVA) on the eleven-day mission. Astronauts Thornton and Thomas D. Akers changed out the solar array panels during this EVA.

This view of the Space Shuttle Atlantis still connected to Russia's Mir Space Station was photographed by the Mir-19 crew on July 4 1995. Cosmonauts Anatoliy Y. Solovyev and Nikolai M. Budarin Mir-19 Commander and Flight Engineer respectively temporarily undocked the Soyuz spacecraft from the cluster of Mir elements to perform a brief fly-around. They took pictures while the STS-71 crew with Mir-18's three crew members aboard undocked Atlantis for the completion of this leg of the joint ac

STS093-703-011 (22-27 July 1999) --- This 70mm frame shows the Chandra X-Ray observatory during its deployment from the Space Shuttle Columbias payload bay. The primary duty of the STS-93 crew was to deploy the worlds most powerful X-Ray telescope. It was also one of the first actions of the astronauts, occurring just a few hours following the shuttles arrival in Earth orbit. This scene is one of a series of still photos recorded by the crew before and during the deployment of the 50,162-pound observatory.

An artist's concept of the interception and destruction of nuclear-armed re-entry vehicles by a space-based electromagnetic railgun. The LTV Aerospace and Defense Co. has demonstrated hypervelocity launch technology in the laboratory that is applicable to a ballistic missile defense system. Country: Unknown

Skylab in orbit. The golden shape is a NASA made parasol that replaced the heat shield damaged during May 14, 1973 launch. Photo by the Skylab-2 crew who installed the parasol during their 28 day mission, from May 25 to June 22, 1973.

Damaged Apollo 13 Service Module with a panel blown away by the explosion of an oxygen tank. It was to provide propulsion, electrical power and storage during the mission. The photo was taken when the Service Module was jettisoned before re-entry. April 17, 1970.

STS-49, the first flight of the Space Shuttle Orbiter Endeavour, lifted off from launch pad 39B on May 7, 1992 at 6:40 pm CDT. The STS-49 mission was the first U.S. orbital flight to feature 4 extravehicular activities (EVAs), and the first flight to involve 3 crew members working simultaneously outside of the spacecraft. The primary objective was the capture and redeployment of the INTELSAT VI (F-3), a communication satellite for the International Telecommunication Satellite organization, which was stranded in an unusable orbit since its launch aboard the Titan rocket in March 1990. In this onboard photo, astronauts Hieb, Akers, and Thuot have handholds on the satellite..

S75-28512 (July 1975) --- An artist s concept depicting a scene in Earth orbit during the Apollo transposition and docking maneuvers of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission. The Command/Service Module is moving into position to dock with the Docking Module. Following the docking the DM will be extracted from the expended Saturn IVB stage. The Docking Module is designed to link the American Apollo spacecraft with the Soviet Soyuz spacecraft. This scene will take place some one hour and twenty-three minutes after the Apollo-Saturn 1B liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center on July 15, 1975. The Soyuz launch at 7 20 a.m. (CDT) from the Baikonur, Kazakhstan launch pad will precede the Apollo liftoff by seven and one-half hours. The artwork is by Paul Fjeld.

STS-87 Onboard Photo The U. S. Microgravity Payload-4 (USMP-4) is carried aboard multi-purpose experiment support structures mounted in the shuttle payload bay and sparning the width of the orbiter.

S66-32530 (14 April 1966) --- Astronauts John W. Young (right), command pilot, and Michael Collins, pilot, the prime crew of the Gemini-10 spaceflight, prepare for a Manned Altitude Test Run in the Gemini-10 spacecraft. They are in McDonnell Aircraft's 30-feet altitude chamber.

An astronaut drifting in space is rescued by a space shuttle orbiting Earth.

S114-E-6644 (3 August 2005) --- Astronaut Stephen K. Robinson, STS-114 mission specialist, anchored to a foot restraint on the International Space Station;s Canadarm2, participates in the mission;s third session of extravehicular activity (EVA). The blackness of space and Earth;s horizon form the backdrop for the image.

Skylab in Earth orbit photographed by the arriving Skylab 3 crew. Skylab 3 mission orbited for 59 days in the world's first space station.

STS090-361-022 (17 April - 3 May 1998) --- A special lens on a 35mm camera gives a fish-eye effect to this out-the-window view from the Space Shuttle Columbia's cabin. The Spacelab Science Module, hosting 16-days of Neurolab research, is in frame center. This picture clearly depicts the configuration of the tunnel that leads from the cabin to the module in the center of the cargo bay.

AS09-21-3183 (7 March 1969) --- A view of the Apollo 9 Lunar Module (LM) "Spider" in a lunar landing configuration, as photographed from the Command and Service Modules (CSM) on the fifth day of the Apollo 9 Earth-orbital mission. The landing gear on the "Spider" has been deployed. Lunar surface probes (sensors) extend out from the landing gear foot pads. Inside the "Spider" were astronauts James A. McDivitt, Apollo 9 commander; and Russell L. Schweickart, lunar module pilot. Astronaut David R. Scott, command module pilot, remained at the controls in the Command Module (CM), "Gumdrop," while the other two astronauts checked out the LM. Schweickart, lunar module pilot, is photographed from the CM "Gumdrop" during his extravehicular activity (EVA) on the fourth day of the Apollo 9 Earth-orbital mission. The CSM is docked with the LM. Astronaut James A. McDivitt, Apollo 9 commander, was inside the LM "Spider." Astronaut David R. Scott, command module pilot, remained at the controls in the

Artist Concept of Shuttle in-orbit flight with Earth limb in the background.

This STS-48 onboard photo is of the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) in the grasp of the RMS (Remote Manipulator System) during deployment, September 1991. UARS gathers data related to the chemistry, dynamics, and energy of the ozone layer. UARS data is used to study energy input, stratospheric photo chemistry, and upper atmospheric circulation. UARS helps us understand and predict how the nitrogen and chlorine cycles, and the nitrous oxides and halo carbons which maintain them, relate to the ozone balance. It also observes diurnal variations in short-lived stratospheric chemical species important to ozone destruction. Data from UARS enables scientists to study ozone depletion in the upper atmosphere.

An astronaut floating above Earth.

S75-27285 (April 1975) --- An artist's concept depicting an American Apollo spacecraft rendezvousing with a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in Earth orbit. The two spacecraft are in a near-docked configuration. During the joint U.S.-USSR Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) mission, which is scheduled for July 1975, the American and Soviet crews will visit each other's spacecraft while the Soyuz and Apollo are docked for a maximum period of two days. The mission is designed to test equipment and techniques that will establish international crew rescue capability in space, as well as permit future cooperative scientific missions. This artwork is by Davis Meltzer.

AS07-03-1541 (11 Oct. 1968) --- The expended Saturn IVB stage as photographed from the Apollo 7 spacecraft during transposition and docking maneuvers. St. Louis Bay and Lake Borgne area just east of New Orleans is seen below. The round, white disc inside the open panels of the Saturn IVB is a simulated docking target similar to that used on the lunar module for docking during lunar missions.

STS063-711-080 (6 Feb. 1995) --- Cosmonaut Valeriy V. Polyakov, who boarded Russia's Mir Space Station on January 8, 1994, looks out Mir's window during rendezvous operations with the Space Shuttle Discovery. This is one of 16 still photographs released by the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) Public Affairs Office (PAO) on February 14, 1995. Onboard the Discovery were astronauts James D. Wetherbee, mission commander; Eileen M. Collins, pilot; Bernard A. Harris, Jr., payload commander; mission specialists C. Michael Foale, Janice E. Voss, and cosmonaut Vladimir G. Titov.

This illustration depicts the configuration of the Spacelab-2 in the cargo bay of the orbiter. Spacelab was a versatile laboratory carried in the Space Shuttle's cargo bay for scientific research flights. Each Spacelab mission had a unique design appropriate to the mission's goals. A number of Spacelab configurations could be assembled from pressurized habitation modules and exposed platforms called pallets. Spacelab-2 was the first pallet-only mission. One of the goals of the mission was to verify that the pallets' configuration was satisfactory for observations and research. Except for two biological experiments and an experiment that used ground-based instruments, the Spacelab-2 scientific instruments needed direct exposure to space. On the first pallet, three solar instruments and one atmospheric instrument were mounted on the Instrument Pointing System, which was being tested on its first flight. The second Spacelab pallet held a large double x-ray telescope and three plasma physi

Artist's concept of a NATO III satellite in space. Base: Vandenberg Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

The Apollo 11 Lunar Module. The LM has separated from the Command Module and beginning it's descent to the Moon's surface. July 20, 1969.

Antarctica, Lemaire Channel, View from mast of S/V Spirit of Sydney sailing through dense brash ice in morning sun

S66-62755 (11 Nov. 1966) --- Excellent stereo and side view of the Agena Target Docking Vehicle as seen from the Gemini-12 spacecraft during rendezvous and docking mission in space. The two spacecraft are 50 feet apart.

iss064e035805 (Feb. 21, 2021) --- The International Space Station, pictured with Russia's ISS Progress 77 cargo craft attached to the Pirs docking compartment, orbits into a sunset 270 miles above the South Pacific. This long duration photograph also shows Earth's airglow (a faint emission of light in the upper atmosphere) and a starry night sky.

The 16th American assembly flight and 112th overall American flight to the International Space Station (ISS) launched on November 23, 2002 from Kennedy's launch pad 39A aboard the Space Shuttle Orbiter Endeavour STS-113. Mission objectives included the delivery of the Expedition Six Crew to the ISS, the return of Expedition Five crew back to Earth, the delivery of the Crew and Equipment Translation Aid (CETA) cart, and the installation and activation of the Port 1 Integrated Truss Assembly (P1). The first major component installed on the left side of the Station, the P1 truss provides an additional three External Thermal Control System radiators. Weighing in at 27,506 pounds, the P1 truss is 45 feet (13.7 meters) long, 15 feet (4.6 meters) wide, and 13 feet (4 meters) high. Three space walks, aided by the use of the Robotic Manipulator Systems of both the Shuttle and the Station, were performed in the installation of P1. In this photograph, astronauts and mission specialists John B. He

S69-18547 (1969) --- North American Rockwell artist's concept illustrating a part of the planned Apollo 9 extravehicular activity on the fourth day of the mission as the Command and Service Modules are docked to the Lunar Module. The figure performing the EVA represents astronaut Russell L. Schweickart, Apollo 9 lunar module pilot.

(21 April 1972) --- View of the Lunar Module (LM) 'Orion' parked on the lunar surface. During their post mission press conference, the Apollo 16 crewmembers called attention to the steerable S-band antenna, which was 'frozen' in a yaw axis during much of the flight.

RECOVERY - APOLLO 8 - USS YORKTOWN Recovery activities of the Apollo 8 Crew and Command Module (CM)-103 Spacecraft inspection onboard the USS Yorktown. USS YORKTOWN

S68-51304 (December 1968) --- North American Rockwell artist's concept illustrating a phase of the scheduled Apollo 8 lunar orbit mission. Here, the Apollo 8 spacecraft Command and Service Modules (CSM), still attached to the Saturn V (S-IVB) third stage, heads for the moon at a speed of about 24,300 miles per hour. The trajectory, computed from the Saturn V's third stage instrumentation unit, provides a free return to Earth around the moon.

iss061e000052 (Oct. 3, 2019) --- The Kounotori H-II Transfer Vehicle 8 (HTV-8) from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is pictured attached to the International Space Station's Harmony module (out of frame) as the orbiting complex flies into an orbital sunrise.

AS11-40-5899 (20 July 1969) --- Close-up view of the plaque which the Apollo 11 astronauts left on the moon in commemoration of the historic lunar landing mission. The plaque was attached to the ladder on the landing gear strut on the descent stage of the Apollo 11 Lunar Module (LM). The plaque was covered with a thin sheet of stainless steel during flight. Astronaut Michael Collins, command module pilot, remained with the Command and Service Modules (CSM) in lunar orbit while astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander, and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot, explored the moon.

from a series of cards for Brooke Bond Tea; 1973; "The Race into Space", illustrated by David Lawson; illustrated colour image of Apollo command and service modules (A series of 50 cards, no. 34).

US Astronaut Edward H. White II carrying out external tasks. Artist: Unknown

. iss068e014262 (Oct. 6, 2022) --- The SpaceX Dragon Endurance crew ship, carrying four Crew-5 members, approaches the International Space Station with the waxing gibbous Moon pictured in the background. Credit: NASA/Kjell Lindgren

S65-30430 (3 June 1965) --- Astronaut Edward H. White II, pilot on the Gemini-Titan 4 spaceflight, is shown during his egress from the spacecraft. His face is covered by a shaded visor to protect him from the unfiltered rays of the sun. White became the first American astronaut to walk in space. He remained outside the spacecraft for 21 minutes during the third revolution of the Gemini-4 mission. He wears a specially designed spacesuit for the extravehicular activity (EVA). In his right hand, he carries a Hand-Held Self-Maneuvering Unit (HHSMU) with which he controlled his movements while in space. He was attached to the spacecraft by a 25-feet umbilical line and a 23-feet tether line, both wrapped together with gold tape to form one cord. He wears an emergency oxygen supply chest pack. Astronaut James A. McDivitt is command pilot for the Gemini-4 mission.

S73-26775 (26 May 1973) --- The deployment of the "parasol" solar shield, a sunshade to help cool the overheated Orbital Workshop of the Skylab 1 space station cluster in Earth orbit, can be seen in the reproduction taken from a color television transmission made by a TV camera aboard the space station. The camera is in the Command Module; and the view is looking through the truss of the Apollo Telescope Mount. The sunshade is only partially deployed in this picture.

In this 1989 artist's concept, the Shuttle-C floats in space with its cargo bay doors open. As envisioned by Marshall Space Flight Center plarners, the Shuttle-C would be an unmanned heavy lift cargo vehicle derived from Space Shuttle elements. The vehicle would utilize the basic Shuttle propulsion units (Solid Rocket Boosters, Space Shuttle Main Engine, External Tank), but would replace the Oribiter with an unmanned Shuttle-C Cargo Element (SCE). The SCE would have a payload bay length of eighty-two feet, compared to sixty feet for the Orbiter cargo bay, and would be able to deliver 170,000 pound payloads to low Earth orbit, more than three times the Orbiter's capacity.

S70-31898 (March 1970) --- A North American Rockwell artist s concept depicting the Apollo 13 Lunar Module (LM) descending to the Fra Mauro landing site as the Command and Service Module (CSM) remains in lunar orbit. Astronaut Thomas K. Mattingly II, command module pilot, will photograph the LM s descent from the CSM. Astronauts James A. Lovell Jr., commander, and Fred W. Haise Jr., lunar module pilot, will descend in the LM to explore the moon. Apollo 13 will be NASA s third lunar landing mission.

(14 Dec. 1972) --- This 70mm view of the Lunar Module (LM) 'Challenger' in lunar orbit before rendezvous with the Apollo 17 Command and Service Modules (CSM).

JSC2000E01559 (January 2000) -- An artist's concept depicts the Space Shuttle Endeavour with its 200-ft. (60 meter) mast deployed in Earth orbit. Theexperiment will conduct radar mapping of Earth's topography.

An astronaut drifting in space is rescued by a space shuttle orbiting Earth.

Space Shuttle over Earth

Apollo 17 Lunar Ascent Module Challenger in Space

Astronaut floating in black background for space and looking at the earth - Elements of this image furnished by NASA

An artist's concept of satellites in orbit, with the earth in the background. Country: Unknown

RECOVERY - APOLLO 8 - USS YORKTOWN Recovery activities of the Apollo 8 Crew and Command Module (CM)-103 Spacecraft inspection onboard the USS Yorktown. USS YORKTOWN

STS091-727-059 (2-12 June 1998) --- White clouds and blue ocean waters form the backdrop for this view of Russia's Mir space station during a post-undockfly-around by the Space Shuttle Discovery, from which this 70mm frame was taken. The markings in the photo are those of the Crew Optical Alignment Sight (COAS), an important instrument used normally for rendezvous and docking maneuvers. The STS-91/Mir-25 docking marked the final scheduled link-up between Mir and members of the NASA Space Shuttle fleet.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Just inside the open hatch of the SPACEHAB module are (left to right) STS-101 crew members Mission Specialists Jeffrey N. Williams and Mary Ellen Weber (Ph.D.), Commander James Donald Halsell Jr., and Pilot Scott "Doc" Horowitz (Ph.D.). The crew is taking part in familiarization activities at the SPACEHAB facility. Mission STS-101 is the third flight in construction of the International Space Station. The 11-day mission is targeted for launch on December 2, 1999, at Launch Pad 39A

Artwork: "Just 314,750 Feet". Artist: C. Kenyon. U.S. Air Force Art Collection. Country: Unknown

of 2