View of astronaut candidates Daniel C. Brandenstein and Frederick H. Hauck, posed behind model of the Space shuttle orbiter.
Candid views of the STS-41C crew preparing and eating food on the middeck include : Mission pilot Francis R. (Dick) Scobee goes bobbing for a morsel of food from his position on the middeck near the galley.
This zoomed-in view of a portion of the all-sky survey from NASA Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer shows a collection of quasar candidates shown in yellow circles. Quasars are supermassive black holes feeding off gas and dust.
STS059-22-004 (9-20 April 1994) --- Half of Space Shuttle Endeavour's crew of six astronauts are pictured in bunks on the middeck. With the picture held horizontally, the red shift crew members pictured are, left to right, astronauts Sidney M. Gutierrez, mission commander; Linda M. Godwin, payload commander; and Kevin P. Chilton, pilot.
STS054-02-008 (13-19 Jan. 1993) --- The traditional inflight crew portrait has, (clockwise), Susan J. Helms, Mario Runco Jr., both mission specialists, John H. Casper, mission commander, Donald R. McMonagle, pilot, and Gregory J. Harbaugh, mission specialist. This frame was taken with a 35mm camera aboard the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Endeavour during the six-day mission.
Candid view of a pair of eye glasses,floating in front of a ventilation filter in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM).
View of astronaut candidates and payload specialists during a training flight on the KC-135. The trainees are experiencing weightlessness in the hold of the aircraft.
ISS044E000290 (06/14/2015) --- NASA astronaut Scott Kelly on the Internationa Space Station prepares another scientific experiment on June 16, 2015. Scott works with his fellow station crew members Russian cosmonauts Gennady Padalka, and Mikhail Kornienko.
NASA’s 2021 class of astronaut candidates view a booster segment for Artemis II inside the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility during a familiarization tour of facilities on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
NASA’s 2021 class of astronaut candidates view a booster segment for Artemis II inside the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility during a familiarization tour of facilities on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Candid views, Astronaut Donald L. Lind posing with the Shuttle Model and Payload Flight Assignment, Bldg. 9A, 03/10/1983. 1. EXHIBITS - SHUTTLE MODEL JSC, HOUSTON, TX
NASA’s 2021 class of astronaut candidates view a booster segment for Artemis II inside the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility during a familiarization tour of facilities on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Candid views of the STS-33/51L Crew during study periods in their offices on 09/09/1985. Portrait of Astronaut Judith A. Resnik, seated in her office. JSC, HOUSTON, TX
S84-47032 (13 Dec 1984) --- Candid view of part of the STS 61-A crew. From left to right are Reinhard Furrer, Wubbo Ockels, Guion S. Bluford, Bonnie J. Dunbar and Ernst Messerschmid.
STS077-368-026 (19-29 May 1996) --- On his off-duty time, Australian-native Andrew S. W. Thomas, mission specialist, has a little fun with Australian mementos in the Spacehab Module onboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Floating in the foreground are a stuffed toy kangaroo and a miniaturized typical highway warning sign about the plentiful four-legged Australian resident. Astronaut Thomas and five other crew members went on to spend almost ten-days aboard Endeavour in support of the Spacehab 4 mission and a number of other payloads.
STS095-E-5204 (4 Nov. 1998) --- Astronauts Pedro Duque (left) and Steven W. Lindsey take a break from busy experimentation onboard the Space Shuttle Discovery during Flight Day 7. Lindsey is pilot and Duque, a mission specialist representing the European Space Agency (ESA) for the STS-95 flight. The photo was taken with an electronic still camera (ESC) at 19:04:45 GMT, Nov. 4.
Candid views of the STS-33/51L Crew during study periods in their offices on 09/09/1985. Astronauts Michael J. Smith (right), STS 51L Pilot, and Francis R. (Dick) Scobee, 51L Mission Commander, are photographed in conversation while in training. JSC, HOUSTON, TX
NASA astronaut candidate Kayla Barron views the Orion pressure vessel for Exploration Mission-2 in the high bay of the Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Feb. 12, 2019. Work is in progress to prepare Orion for its crewed mission launching on the Space Launch System rocket.
Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, astronaut candidate Kayla Barron, second from left, and NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik, at right, view the Crew Module for Orion’s Exploration Mission-1 on Feb. 12, 2019.
Candid views of the STS-33/51L Crew during study periods in their offices, 09/09/1985. Astronauts Michael J. Smith, STS-51L Pilot, and Ronald E. McNair, STS-51L Mission Specialist, are photographed in conversation while in training at JSC. JSC, HOUSTON, TX
Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, astronaut candidate Kayla Barron, second from left, and NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik, at right, view the European Service Module for Orion’s Exploration Mission-1 on Feb. 12, 2019.
Astronaut candidate Kayla Barron examines a heat-resistant tile sample inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a tour on Feb. 12, 2019. Barron also viewed additional spaceflight hardware being processed for Exploration Mission-1 and Exploration Mission-2.
STS054-07-003 (13-19 Jan 1993) --- Astronaut John H. Casper, mission commander, floats near the Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA) station on Endeavour's middeck. A friction car and its accompanying loop -- part of the Toys in Space package onboard -- can be seen just above Casper's head. The photograph was taken with a 35mm camera.
STS059-32-016 (20 April 1994) --- Astronaut Linda M. Godwin, STS-59 payload commander, poses with the spacesuit she wore for launch. She will eventually wear the partial pressure suit for the entry phase of the Space Shuttle Endeavour's week and a half mission in Earth orbit.
The 2017 class of astronaut candidates toured the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and viewed exhibits, including Space Shuttle Atlantis, during a familiarization tour of facilities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The candidates toured center facilities, including the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building high bay; Launch Control Center, Launch Pad 39B and the Space Station Processing Facility. They also toured Boeing's Commercial Crew and Cargo Facility, United Launch Alliance's Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and SpaceX's Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy. The candidates will spend about two years getting to know the space station systems and learning how to spacewalk, speak Russian, control the International Space Station's robotic arm and fly T-38s, before they're eligible to be assigned to a mission.
The 2017 class of astronaut candidates view the new work platforms in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building during a familiarization tour at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The candidates toured center facilities, including the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building high bay; Launch Control Center, Launch Pad 39B, and the Space Station Processing Facility. They also toured Boeing's Commercial Crew and Cargo Facility, United Launch Alliance's Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and Space Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy. The candidates will spend about two years getting to know the space station systems and learning how to spacewalk, speak Russian, control the International Space Station's robotic arm and fly T-38s, before they're eligible to be assigned to a mission.
The 2017 class of astronaut candidates toured the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and viewed exhibits, including Space Shuttle Atlantis, during a familiarization tour of facilities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The candidates toured center facilities, including the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building high bay; Launch Control Center, Launch Pad 39B and the Space Station Processing Facility. They also toured Boeing's Commercial Crew and Cargo Facility, United Launch Alliance's Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and SpaceX's Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy. The candidates will spend about two years getting to know the space station systems and learning how to spacewalk, speak Russian, control the International Space Station's robotic arm and fly T-38s, before they're eligible to be assigned to a mission.
Members of the 2017 class of astronaut candidates view the new work platforms in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building during a familiarization tour at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The candidates toured center facilities, including the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building high bay, Launch Control Center, Launch Pad 39B, and the Space Station Processing Facility. They also toured Boeing's Commercial Crew and Cargo Facility, United Launch Alliance's Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and SpaceX's Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy. The candidates will spend about two years getting to know the space station systems and learning how to spacewalk, speak Russian, control the International Space Station's robotic arm and fly T-38s, before they're eligible to be assigned to a mission.
The 2017 class of astronaut candidates toured the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and viewed exhibits, including Space Shuttle Atlantis, during a familiarization tour of facilities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The candidates toured center facilities, including the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building high bay; Launch Control Center, Launch Pad 39B and the Space Station Processing Facility. They also toured Boeing's Commercial Crew and Cargo Facility, United Launch Alliance's Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and SpaceX's Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy. The candidates will spend about two years getting to know the space station systems and learning how to spacewalk, speak Russian, control the International Space Station's robotic arm and fly T-38s, before they're eligible to be assigned to a mission.
NASA T-38s fly in formation above NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Several astronauts and astronaut candidates traveled to view the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft on Launch Pad 39B, as well as support various pre-launch activities. Aircraft designations and passengers: NASA 901: Chris Condon / Astronaut Zena Cardman. 902: Astronaut Candidate Nicole Ayers / Astronaut Christina Koch. 903: Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Jeremy Hansen / Astronaut Drew Morgan. 904: Chief Astronaut Reid Wiseman / Astronaut Joe Acaba. 905 (Photo Chase): Astronaut Candidate Jack Hathaway / Josh Valcarcel. Credit: NASA/Josh Valcarcel PHOTOGRAPHER: Josh Valcarcel
The 2017 class of astronaut candidates toured the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and viewed exhibits, including Space Shuttle Atlantis, during a familiarization tour of facilities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The candidates toured center facilities, including the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building high bay; Launch Control Center, Launch Pad 39B and the Space Station Processing Facility. They also toured Boeing's Commercial Crew and Cargo Facility, United Launch Alliance's Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and SpaceX's Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy. The candidates will spend about two years getting to know the space station systems and learning how to spacewalk, speak Russian, control the International Space Station's robotic arm and fly T-38s, before they're eligible to be assigned to a mission.
The 2017 class of astronaut candidates are inside the Space Station Processing Facility high bay during a familiarization tour of facilities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. They are viewing the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion System for NASA's Space Launch System rocket. The candidates toured center facilities, including the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building high bay; the Launch Control Center, Launch Pad 39B, and the Vehicle Assembly Building. They also toured Boeing's Commercial Crew and Cargo Facility, United Launch Alliance's Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and SpaceX's Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy. The candidates will spend about two years getting to know the space station systems and learning how to spacewalk, speak Russian, control the International Space Station's robotic arm and fly T-38s, before they're eligible to be assigned to a mission.
The 2017 class of astronaut candidates toured the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and viewed exhibits, including Space Shuttle Atlantis, during a familiarization tour of facilities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The candidates toured center facilities, including the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building high bay; Launch Control Center, Launch Pad 39B and the Space Station Processing Facility. They also toured Boeing's Commercial Crew and Cargo Facility, United Launch Alliance's Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and SpaceX's Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy. The candidates will spend about two years getting to know the space station systems and learning how to spacewalk, speak Russian, control the International Space Station's robotic arm and fly T-38s, before they're eligible to be assigned to a mission.
The 2017 class of astronaut candidates view the mobile launcher during a familiarization tour at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The candidates toured center facilities, including the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building high bay; the Launch Control Center, Launch Pad 39B, and the Vehicle Assembly Building. They also toured Boeing's Commercial Crew and Cargo Facility, United Launch Alliance's Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and SpaceX's Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy. The candidates will spend about two years getting to know the space station systems and learning how to spacewalk, speak Russian, control the International Space Station's robotic arm and fly T-38s, before they're eligible to be assigned to a mission.
The 2017 class of astronaut candidates toured the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and viewed exhibits, including Space Shuttle Atlantis, during a familiarization tour of facilities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The candidates toured center facilities, including the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building high bay; Launch Control Center, Launch Pad 39B and the Space Station Processing Facility. They also toured Boeing's Commercial Crew and Cargo Facility, United Launch Alliance's Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and SpaceX's Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy. The candidates will spend about two years getting to know the space station systems and learning how to spacewalk, speak Russian, control the International Space Station's robotic arm and fly T-38s, before they're eligible to be assigned to a mission.
The 2017 class of astronaut candidates are inside the Space Station Processing Facility high bay during a familiarization tour of facilities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. They are viewing the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion System for NASA's Space Launch System rocket. The candidates toured center facilities, including the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building high bay; the Launch Control Center, Launch Pad 39B, and the Vehicle Assembly Building. They also toured Boeing's Commercial Crew and Cargo Facility, United Launch Alliance's Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and SpaceX's Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy. The candidates will spend about two years getting to know the space station systems and learning how to spacewalk, speak Russian, control the International Space Station's robotic arm and fly T-38s, before they're eligible to be assigned to a mission.
The 2017 class of astronaut candidates get a close-up view of the mobile launcher during a familiarization tour at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The candidates toured center facilities, including the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building high bay; the Launch Control Center, Launch Pad 39B, and the Vehicle Assembly Building. They also toured Boeing's Commercial Crew and Cargo Facility, United Launch Alliance's Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and SpaceX's Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy. The candidates will spend about two years getting to know the space station systems and learning how to spacewalk, speak Russian, control the International Space Station's robotic arm and fly T-38s, before they're eligible to be assigned to a mission.
The 2017 class of astronaut candidates toured the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and viewed exhibits, including Space Shuttle Atlantis, during a familiarization tour of facilities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The candidates toured center facilities, including the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building high bay; Launch Control Center, Launch Pad 39B and the Space Station Processing Facility. They also toured Boeing's Commercial Crew and Cargo Facility, United Launch Alliance's Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and SpaceX's Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy. The candidates will spend about two years getting to know the space station systems and learning how to spacewalk, speak Russian, control the International Space Station's robotic arm and fly T-38s, before they're eligible to be assigned to a mission.
A member of the 2017 class of astronaut candidates views the Orion crew module for Exploration Mission-1 inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building high bay during a familiarization tour at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The candidates toured center facilities, including the Vehicle Assembly Building, Launch Pad 39B, the Launch Control Center and the Space Station Processing Facility. They also toured Boeing's Commercial Crew and Cargo Facility, and United Launch Alliance's Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The candidates will spend about two years getting to know the space station systems and learning how to spacewalk, speak Russian, control the International Space Station's robotic arm and fly T-38s, before they're eligible to be assigned to a mission.
The 2017 class of astronaut candidates toured the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and viewed exhibits, including Space Shuttle Atlantis, during a familiarization tour of facilities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The candidates toured center facilities, including the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building high bay; Launch Control Center, Launch Pad 39B and the Space Station Processing Facility. They also toured Boeing's Commercial Crew and Cargo Facility, United Launch Alliance's Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and SpaceX's Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy. The candidates will spend about two years getting to know the space station systems and learning how to spacewalk, speak Russian, control the International Space Station's robotic arm and fly T-38s, before they're eligible to be assigned to a mission.
Members of the 2017 class of astronaut candidates view the flame trench at Launch Pad 39B during a familiarization tour of facilities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The candidates toured center facilities, including the Vehicle Assembly Building, Launch Control Center, Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building high bay and the Space Station Processing Facility. They also toured Boeing's Commercial Crew and Cargo Facility, United Launch Alliance's Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and SpaceX's Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy. The candidates will spend about two years getting to know the space station systems and learning how to spacewalk, speak Russian, control the International Space Station's robotic arm and fly T-38s, before they're eligible to be assigned to a mission.
The 2017 class of astronaut candidates get a close-up view of the mobile launcher during a familiarization tour at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The candidates toured center facilities, including the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building high bay; the Launch Control Center, Launch Pad 39B, and the Vehicle Assembly Building. They also toured Boeing's Commercial Crew and Cargo Facility, United Launch Alliance's Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and SpaceX's Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy. The candidates will spend about two years getting to know the space station systems and learning how to spacewalk, speak Russian, control the International Space Station's robotic arm and fly T-38s, before they're eligible to be assigned to a mission.
STS095-E-5195 (31 Oct. 1998) --- U.S. Sen. John H. Glenn Jr., STS-95 payload specialist, is pictured with a water dispenser on Discovery's middeck during Flight Day two activity. The photo was taken with an electronic still camera (ESC) at 07:09:33 GMT, Oct. 31.
NM22-427-012 (16-26 Sept. 1996) --- During off-duty time on the Spektr Module aboard the Earth-orbiting Mir Space Station, astronaut Shannon W. Lucid, cosmonaut guest researcher, retrieves a book from her personal library. Lucid, dropped off in March by the STS-76 crew members, was nearing the end of 188 consecutive days in space before returning to Earth with the STS-79 crew. She worked with a total of five cosmonauts at various times during that stay.
STS083-303-002 (4-8 April 1997) --- Astronaut Susan L. Still, pilot, floats into the Spacelab Module in the early phases of its activation. Still, a member of the 1995 astronaut class, joined four other NASA astronauts and two scientist payload specialists for the Microgravity Science Laboratory 1 (MSL-1) mission aboard the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Columbia.
S74-E-5117 (15 Nov 1995) --- Following the successful in-space docking of Russia?s Mir Space Station and the Space Shuttle Atlantis, STS-74 and Mir-20 crew members pose for a group portrait aboard the Mir Space Station?s Base Block. Wearing the two-tone shirts are the five STS-74 crew members - Kenneth D. Cameron, from the left, James D. Halsell, Jr., Chris A. Hadfield, William S. McArthur, Jr. and Jerry L. Ross. The Mir-20 crew members are, left to right, cosmonaut Sergei V. Avdeyev, the European Space Agency?s (ESA) Thomas Reiter and cosmonaut Yuriy P. Gidzenko. This image was among a series of still images downlinked and released by NASA on November 15, 1995.
STS083-308-014 (4-8 April 1997)--- Astronaut Michael L. Gernhardt, mission specialist, appears comfortable with the Microgravity characteristic of space flight as he prepares to go to work in the Spacelab Science Module in the cargo bay of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Columbia. Gernhardt, along with four other NASA astronauts and two payload specialists supporting the Microgravity Sciences Laboratory (MSL-1) mission were less than a fourth of the way through a scheduled 16-day flight when a power problem cut short their planned stay.
S85-E-5038 (11 August 1997) --- Astronaut Curtis L. Brown, Jr., commander, checks over the most recent send-up of mail from flight controllers in Houston, Texas. The Thermal Imaging Printing System (TIPS) station is on the mid-deck of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Discovery.
STS085-316-036 (7 - 19 August 1997) --- Astronaut Robert L. Curbeam, Jr., mission specialist, takes pictures of Earth with a 70mm handheld camera through the overhead windows on the aft flight deck of the Space Shuttle Discovery. Curbeam, a member of the 1995 class of astronaut candidates, is making his first flight aboard a Space Shuttle.
STS057-28-013 (21 June - 1 July 1993) --- With a camera and cable in hand, astronaut Janice E. Voss, mission specialist, floats through a special tunnel into the SpaceHab module. Voss and five other NASA astronauts spent almost ten days aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in Earth-orbit supporting the SpaceHab mission, retrieving the European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) and conducting various experiments.
Nine views documenting JSC visit by Mrs. Ronald ( Nancy ) Reagan wife of the U.S, Presidential Candidate challenging the incumbent for Republican nomination. All views are in Building 2. She is seen in Building 2 exhibit area with Astronaut John W. Young in all views and with PAO Harold S. Stall in several. Stall, Young, Reagan at LTA-8 ( 25563 ); Young, Reagan at LRV ( 25564 ); Medium shot of Young, Reagan. ( 25565 ); Young, Reagan at command Module. (25566 ); Reagan, Young, Stall at Cm ( 25567 ); Young, Reagan at Shuttle exhibit. ( 25568 thru 25569 );
S78-33689 (1978) ASCAN WATER SURVIVAL SCHOOL TRAINING VIEW 1978. Several new astronaut trainees are seen prior to a training exercise at the water survival school in Florida attended by 16 of the candidates. From far left to right are Shannon W. Lucid, Steven A. Hawley, Jeffrey A. Hoffman, Ronald E. McNair and Rhea Seddon. The overall program, held at Homestead Air Force Base, was designed to prepare the trainees for proper measures to take in the event of ejection from an aircraft over water. NASA Photograph.
NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik and astronaut candidate Kayla Barron examine heat-resistant tile samples inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a tour on Feb. 12, 2019. They also viewed additional spaceflight hardware being processed for Exploration Mission-1 and Exploration Mission-2.
iss062e147663 (4/12/2020) --- A view taken during candid shots in Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) aboard the International Space Station (ISS) during PAO event. Astronaut Drew Morgan, in his blue flight suit, participates in the event. He is holding a sign that reads NASA.gov/NASAatHome. He is joined by astronaut Christopher Cassidy holding a sign that reads Spot the station.NASA.gov.
In the Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3, members of the 1998 astronaut candidate class (group 17) get a close-up view of the tiles, part of the thermal protection system, on the underside of the orbiter Atlantis overhead. The class is at KSC for training activities, including fire training and a flight awareness program, plus touring the OPF, SSME Processing Facility, VAB, SSPF, launch pads, SLF, Apollo/Saturn V Center and the crew headquarters. The U.S. candidates in the '98 class are Clayton C. Anderson, Lee J. Archambault, Tracy E. Caldwell (Ph.D.), Gregory E. Chamitoff (Ph.D.), Timothy J. Creamer, Christopher J. Ferguson, Michael J. Foreman, Michael E. Fossum, Kenneth T. Ham, Patricia C. Hilliard (M.D.), Gregory C. Johnson, Gregory H. Johnson, Stanley G. Love (Ph.D.), Leland D. Melvin, Barbara R. Morgan, William A. Oefelein, John D. Olivas (Ph.D.), Nicholas J.M. Patrick (Ph.D.), Alan G. Poindexter, Garrett E. Reisman (Ph.D.), Steven R. Swanson, Douglas H. Wheelock, Sunita L. Williams, Neil W. Woodward III, George D. Zamka; and the international candidates are Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel, Roberto Vittori, Bjarni V. Tryggvason, and Marcos Pontes
NASA astronauts and astronaut candidates view NASA’s Artemis I Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft atop the mobile launcher on the pad at Launch Complex 39B at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sept. 2, 2022. The astronauts are, from left to right: Zena Cardman (partially obscured), NASA astronaut; Deniz Burnham and Anil Menon, NASA astronaut candidates; Anne McClain, NASA astronaut; Marcos Berrios, NASA astronaut candidate; and Victor Glover, NASA astronaut. The first in a series of increasingly complex missions, Artemis I will provide a foundation for human deep space exploration and demonstrate our commitment and capability to extend human presence to the Moon and beyond. The primary goal of Artemis I is to thoroughly test the integrated systems before crewed missions by operating the spacecraft in a deep space environment, testing Orion’s heat shield, and recovering the crew module after reentry, descent, and splashdown. In later missions, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the surface of the Moon, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and serving as a steppingstone on the way to Mars.
NASA astronauts and astronaut candidates view NASA’s Artemis I Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft atop the mobile launcher on the pad at Launch Complex 39B at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sept. 2, 2022. The astronauts are, from left to right: Victor Glover, NASA astronaut; Marcos Berrios, NASA astronaut candidate; Anne McClain, NASA astronaut; Anil Menon and Deniz Burnham, NASA astronaut candidates; and Zena Cardman, NASA astronaut. The first in a series of increasingly complex missions, Artemis I will provide a foundation for human deep space exploration and demonstrate our commitment and capability to extend human presence to the Moon and beyond. The primary goal of Artemis I is to thoroughly test the integrated systems before crewed missions by operating the spacecraft in a deep space environment, testing Orion’s heat shield, and recovering the crew module after reentry, descent, and splashdown. In later missions, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the surface of the Moon, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and serving as a steppingstone on the way to Mars.
NASA astronauts and astronaut candidates view NASA’s Artemis I Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft atop the mobile launcher on the pad at Launch Complex 39B at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sept. 2, 2022. The astronauts are, from left to right: Zena Cardman, NASA astronaut; Deniz Burnham and Anil Menon, NASA astronaut candidates; Anne McClain, NASA astronaut; Marcos Berrios, NASA astronaut candidate; and Victor Glover, NASA astronaut. The first in a series of increasingly complex missions, Artemis I will provide a foundation for human deep space exploration and demonstrate our commitment and capability to extend human presence to the Moon and beyond. The primary goal of Artemis I is to thoroughly test the integrated systems before crewed missions by operating the spacecraft in a deep space environment, testing Orion’s heat shield, and recovering the crew module after reentry, descent, and splashdown. In later missions, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the surface of the Moon, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and serving as a steppingstone on the way to Mars.
STS084-379-034 (15-24 May 1997) --- Two mission commanders greet and shake hands moments after hatch-opening on docking day, of the Space Shuttle Atlantis and Russia's Mir Space Station. Charles J. Precourt (left), STS-84 commander, and Vasili V. Tsibliyev, Mir-23 commander, along with their respective flight crews went on to spend several days sharing joint activities in Earth-orbit. This is the sixth Atlantis/Mir docking mission.
STS081-E-05091 (12 Jan. 1997) --- Astronaut Michael A. Baker, mission commander, prepares to retrieve a temporarily stowed camera from the Space Shuttle Atlantis' aft flight deck during early phases of the scheduled ten-day mission. Baker and five crew mates will dock with Russia's Mir Space Station around the middle of the week. This image was recorded with an Electronic Still Camera (ESC) and was later downlinked to flight controllers in Houston, Texas.
STS081-E-05498 (16 Jan. 1997) --- Supplies and equipment transfer are the topic of the day, as the Space Shuttle Atlantis and Russia's Mir Space Station respective commanders have a discussion aboard the Orbiter. Left to right are cosmonauts Valeri G. Korzun and Aleksandr Y. Kaleri, Mir-22 commander and flight engineer respectively; along with astronaut Michael A. Baker, mission commander. The photograph was recorded with an Electronic Still Camera (ESC) and later was downlinked to flight controllers in Houston, Texas.
STS056-29-019 (8-17 April 1993) --- Astronaut Ellen Ochoa, STS-56 mission specialist, takes a brief time out from a busy day in space to play a 15-minute set of flute offerings on the space shuttle Discovery's aft flight deck. Ochoa, who has played the flute for 25 years, performed the Marine Corps Hymn, Navy Hymn and God Save the Queen for fellow crew members as well as some Vivaldi for herself. Photo credit: NASA
STS081-314-019 (12-22 Jan 1997) --- Astronaut Michael A. Baker, mission commander, floats through the tunnel leading from the Space Shuttle Atlantis mid-deck into Spacehab Double Module (DM). For a period of five days, seven astronauts and two Russian cosmonauts are sharing a variety of chores in space as the spacecraft from their respective nations are docked in Earth-orbit.
NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik, center, and astronaut candidate Kayla Barron tour the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Feb. 12, 2019. They viewed the European Service Module for Orion’s Exploration Mission-1, and the pressure vessel for Exploration Mission-2. Accompanying them, from left, are Glenn Chin, deputy manager, NASA Orion Production Operations; Nathan Varn, senior manager, Assembly, Test and Launch Operations with Lockheed Martin; and Carlos Garcia, NASA Orion Production Operations Launch Abort System lead. At far right is Keith Manning, representing the Flight Test Integration Team from Johnson Space Center in Houston.
NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik, center, and astronaut candidate Kayla Barron, far right, tour the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Feb. 12, 2019. They viewed all of the hardware in the high bay that is being processed for Exploration Mission-1 and Exploration Mission-2. Accompanying them are Jules Schneider, director, Assembly, Test and Launch Operations (ATLO) with Lockheed Martin; Nathan Varn, senior manager, ATLO with Lockheed Martin; and Glenn Chin, deputy manager, NASA Orion Production Operations.
The Transient Dendritic Solidification Experiment (TDSE) is being developed as a candidate for flight aboard the International Space Station. TDSE will study the growth of dendrites (treelike crystalline structures) in a transparent material (succinonitrile or SCN) that mimics the behavior or widely used iron-based metals. Basic work by three Space Shuttle missions of the Isothermal Dendritic Growth Experiment (IDGE) is yielding new insights into virtually all industrially relevant metal and alloy forming operations. The TDSE is similar to IDGE, but will maintain a constant temperature while varying pressure on the dendrites. Shown here is an exploded view of major elements of the TDSE. A similar view is availble without labels. The principal investigator is Matthew Koss of College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. Photo credit: NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)
The Transient Dendritic Solidification Expepriment (TDSE) is being developed as a candidate for flight aboard the International Space Station. TDSE will study the growth of dendrites (treelike crystalline structures) in a transparent material (succinonitrile or SCN) that mimics the behavior of widely used iron-based metals. Basic work by three Space Shuttle missions of the Isothermal Dendritic Growth Expepriment (IDGE) is yielding new insights into virtually all industrially relevant metal and alloy forming operations. The TDSE is similar to IDGE, but will maintain a constant temperature while varying pressure on the dendrites. Shown here is an exploded view of major elements of TDSE. A similar view is available with labels. The principal investigator is Matthew Koss of College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. Photo credit: NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)
Astronaut candidate Kayla Barron, center, and NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik, far right, tour the Launch Abort System Facility (LASF) and visit with workers at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Feb. 12, 2019. Barron and Bresnik viewed the Launch Abort System (LAS) that will be used for the Orion Ascent Abort-2 (AA-2) Flight Test. AA-2 is a full-stress test of the LAS, scheduled for Spring 2019. AA-2 will launch from Space Launch Complex 46, carrying a fully functional LAS and a 22,000-pound Orion test vehicle to an altitude of 31,000 feet and traveling at more than 1,000 miles an hour. The test will verify the LAS can steer the crew module and astronauts aboard to safety in the event of an issue with the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket when the spacecraft is under the highest aerodynamic loads it will experience during a rapid climb into space. NASA's Orion and Exploration Ground Systems programs and contractors from Jacob's and Northrop Grumman in conjunction with the Air Force Space and Missile Center's Launch Operations branch are performing flight operations for AA-2.
Astronaut candidate Kayla Barron tours the Launch Abort System Facility (LASF) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Feb. 12, 2019. Barron viewed the Launch Abort System (LAS) that will be used for the Orion Ascent Abort-2 (AA-2) Flight Test. AA-2 is a full-stress test of the LAS, scheduled for Spring 2019. AA-2 will launch from Space Launch Complex 46, carrying a fully functional LAS and a 22,000-pound Orion test vehicle to an altitude of 31,000 feet and traveling at more than 1,000 miles an hour. The test will verify the LAS can steer the crew module and astronauts aboard to safety in the event of an issue with the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket when the spacecraft is under the highest aerodynamic loads it will experience during a rapid climb into space. NASA's Orion and Exploration Ground Systems programs and contractors from Jacob's and Northrop Grumman in conjunction with the Air Force Space and Missile Center's Launch Operations branch are performing flight operations for AA-2.
The galaxy cutting dramatically across the frame of this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image is a slightly warped dwarf galaxy known as UGC1281. Seen here from an edge-on perspective, this galaxy lies roughly 18 million light-years away in the constellation of Triangulum (The Triangle). The bright companion to the lower left of UGC 1281 is the small galaxy PGC 6700, officially known as 2MASX J01493473+3234464. Other prominent stars belonging to our own galaxy, the Milky Way, and more distant galaxies can be seen scattered throughout the sky. The side-on view we have of UGC 1281 makes it a perfect candidate for studies into how gas is distributed within galactic halos — the roughly spherical regions of diffuse gas extending outwards from a galaxy’s center. Astronomers have studied this galaxy to see how its gas vertically extends out from its central plane, and found it to be a quite typical dwarf galaxy. However, it does have a slightly warped shape to its outer edges, and is forming stars at a particularly low rate. European Space Agency Credit: ESA/NASA, Acknowledgement Luca Limatola
NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik, at left, and astronaut candidate Kayla Barron tour the Launch Abort System Facility (LASF) and visit with workers at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Feb. 12, 2019. Barron and Bresnik viewed the Launch Abort System (LAS) that will be used for the Orion Ascent Abort-2 (AA-2) Flight Test. AA-2 is a full-stress test of the LAS, scheduled for Spring 2019. AA-2 will launch from Space Launch Complex 46, carrying a fully functional LAS and a 22,000-pound Orion test vehicle to an altitude of 31,000 feet and traveling at more than 1,000 miles an hour. The test will verify the LAS can steer the crew module and astronauts aboard to safety in the event of an issue with the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket when the spacecraft is under the highest aerodynamic loads it will experience during a rapid climb into space. NASA's Orion and Exploration Ground Systems programs and contractors from Jacob's and Northrop Grumman in conjunction with the Air Force Space and Missile Center's Launch Operations branch are performing flight operations for AA-2.
Astronaut candidate Kayla Barron, at left, and NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik tour the Launch Abort System Facility (LASF) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Feb. 12, 2019. They viewed the Launch Abort System (LAS) that will be used for the Orion Ascent Abort-2 (AA-2) Flight Test. AA-2 is a full-stress test of the LAS, scheduled for Spring 2019. AA-2 will launch from Space Launch Complex 46, carrying a fully functional LAS and a 22,000-pound Orion test vehicle to an altitude of 31,000 feet and traveling at more than 1,000 miles an hour. The test will verify the LAS can steer the crew module and astronauts aboard to safety in the event of an issue with the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket when the spacecraft is under the highest aerodynamic loads it will experience during a rapid climb into space. NASA's Orion and Exploration Ground Systems programs and contractors from Jacob's and Northrop Grumman in conjunction with the Air Force Space and Missile Center's Launch Operations branch are performing flight operations for AA-2.
This image from NASA Kepler mission shows the telescope full field of view an expansive star-rich patch of sky in the constellations Cygnus and Lyra stretching across 100 square degrees, or the equivalent of two side-by-side dips of the Big Dipper. A cluster of stars, called NGC 6791, and a star with a known planet, called TrES-2, are outlined. The cluster is eight billion years old, and located 13,000 light-years from Earth. It is called an open cluster because its stars are loosely bound and have started to spread out. TrES-2 is a hot Jupiter-like planet known to cross in front of, or transit, its star every 2.5 days. Kepler will hunt for transiting planets that are as small as Earth. Kepler was designed to hunt for planets like Earth. Of the approximately 4.5 million stars in the region pictured here, more than 100,000 were selected as candidates for Kepler's search. The mission will spend the next three-and-a-half years staring at these target stars, looking for periodic dips in brightness. Such dips occur when planets cross in front of their stars from our point of view in the galaxy, partially blocking the starlight. The area in the lower right of the image is brighter because it is closer to the plane of our galaxy and is jam-packed with stars. The area in upper left is farther from the galactic plane and contains fewer stars. The image has been color-coded so that brighter stars appear white, and fainter stars, red. It is a 60-second exposure, taken on April 8, 2009, one day after the spacecraft's dust cover was jettisoned. To achieve the level of precision needed to spot planets as small as Earth, Kepler's images are intentionally blurred slightly. This minimizes the number of saturated stars. Saturation, or "blooming," occurs when the brightest stars overload the individual pixels in the detectors, causing the signal to spill out into nearby pixels. These spills can be seen in the image as fine white lines extending above and below some of the brightest stars. Blooming is an expected side effect of Kepler's ultra-sensitive camera. Some of the lightly saturated stars are candidates for planet searches, while those that are heavily saturated are not. The grid lines across the picture show how the focal plane is laid out on Kepler's camera —the largest ever launched in space at 95 megapixels. There are 42 charge-coupled devices (CCDs), paired into square-shaped modules, whose outline can be seen in the image. A thin black line in each module shows adjacent pairs of CCDs. The thicker black lines that cross through the image are from structures holding the modules together, and were purposely oriented to block out the very brightest stars in Kepler's field of view. The four black corners of the image show where the fine-guidance sensors reside on the focal plane. These sensors are used to hold the telescope's gaze steady by measuring its position on the sky 10 times every second, and by feeding this information to the spacecraft's attitude control system. Ghost images also appear in the image, which are reflections off the lenses above the CCDs. These expected artifacts were mapped out during ground testing for Kepler, and will not affect science observations because they will be removed as the data are processed. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA11984
There have been several proposals to send people to Mars but not land them on the surface. Instead, they would either fly by Mars once and return to Earth, or orbit Mars for a period of time. Would they at least get spectacular naked-eye views of the Martian surface? Some parts of Mars would be interesting: for example the polar ice caps, and the bright (dust-covered) regions would be seen reasonably well, although the color is very uniform. The dark (low reflectance) regions of Mars are some of the most interesting and important regions studied by our orbiters and rovers, but they would appear very bland to humans outside of the planet's atmosphere. This is because the thin atmosphere of Mars is quite bright and dusty, so when looking at dark surface areas, most of what you would see is scattered light from the atmospheric dust, and the surface would have a very low contrast. It would also appear reddish, even if the surface materials are not reddish, from the scattered light. Here is an example from the Nili Patera region of Mars, a candidate future landing site. At the top is an approximation of the natural color as seen by people with normal color vision -- almost no surface detail is visible. In the middle is the standard HiRISE IRB color product, consisting of the infrared, red, and blue-green images displayed as red, green, and blue, respectively, and with a min-max stretch applied to each color. In other words, the darkest pixel in the entire image is set to black, the brightest pixel is set to white, and all others are linearly interpolated. At bottom is an enhanced color product, in which each bandpass is given a linear stretch for the local subimage, sometimes saturating a small percentage of data to black or white to give the rest of the scene more contrast, followed by color saturation enhancement. Now we can see a diversity of colors that distinguish different surface units: dust, sand, and rocks with different minerals. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA21040
This image from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows the exposed bedrock of an ejecta blanket of an unnamed crater in the Mare Serpentis region of Mars. Ejecta, when exposed, are truly an eye-opening feature, as they reveal the sometimes exotic subsurface, and materials created by impacts (close-up view). This ejecta shares similarities to others found elsewhere on Mars, which are of particular scientific interest for the extent of exposure and diverse colors. (For example, the Hargraves Crater ejecta, in the Nili Fossae trough region, was once considered as a candidate landing site for the next NASA Mars rover 2020.) The colors observed in this picture represent different rocks and minerals, now exposed on the surface. Blue in HiRISE infrared color images generally depicts iron-rich minerals, like olivine and pyroxene. Lighter colors, such as yellow, indicate the presence of altered rocks. The possible sources of the ejecta is most likely from two unnamed craters. How do we determine which crater deposited the ejecta? A full-scale image shows numerous linear features that are observed trending in an east-west direction. These linear features indicate the flow direction of the ejecta from its unnamed host crater. Therefore, if we follow them, we find that they emanate from the bottom of the two unnamed craters. If the ejecta had originated from the top crater, then we would expect the linear features at the location of our picture to trend northwest to southeast. https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA21782
This infrared image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows a cloud of gas and dust full of bubbles, which are inflated by wind and radiation from massive young stars. Each bubble is filled with hundreds to thousands of stars, which form from dense clouds of gas and dust. The bubbles are estimated to be 10 to 30 light-years across, based on what astronomers know about them and other cosmic bubbles. However, determining the exact sizes of individual bubbles can be difficult, because their distance from Earth is challenging to measure and objects appear smaller the farther away they are. Flows of particles called stellar winds emitted by the stars, as well as the pressure of the light those winds produce, can push the surrounding material outward, sometimes creating a distinct perimeter. In Figure 1, the yellow circles and ovals outline more than 30 bubbles. This active region of star formation is located inside the Milky Way galaxy, in the constellation Aquila (also known as the Eagle). Black veins running throughout the cloud are regions of especially dense cold dust and gas where even more new stars are likely to form. The colors in this image represent different wavelengths of infrared light. Blue represents a wavelength of light primarily emitted by stars; dust and organic molecules called hydrocarbons appear green, and warm dust that's been heated by stars appears red. Also visible are four bow shocks — red arcs of warm dust formed as winds from fast-moving stars push aside dust grains scattered sparsely through most of the nebula. The locations of the bow shocks are indicated by squares in Figure 1. Figure 2 shows zoomed-in views of the four bow shocks. The bubbles and bow shocks in this image were identified as part of The Milky Way Project, a citizen science initiative on Zooniverse.org that seeks to map star formation throughout the galaxy. Participating citizen scientists looked through images from Spitzer's public data archive and identified as many bubbles as they could. More than 78,000 unique user accounts contributed. Astronomers running this program recently published a catalog of the bubble candidates that multiple citizen scientists had identified. The full Milky Way Project catalogs, which list a total of 2,600 bubbles and 599 bow shocks, are described in a paper published recently in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Animation available at https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA23402