51A-104-049 (14 Nov. 1984) --- Astronaut Dale A. Gardner, having just completed the major portion of his second extravehicular activity (EVA) period in three days aboard the Earth-orbiting Discovery, holds up a for sale sign. Astronaut Joseph P. Allen IV, who also participated in the two EVA, is reflected in Gardner's helmet visor. A portion of each of two recovered satellites is in lower right corner, with Westar nearer Discovery's aft. Dr. Allen, standing on the mobile foot restraint, connected to the remote manipulator system. Photo credit: NASA
Arabsat communications satellite deploying from Discovery's payload bay. Cloudy Earth's surface can be seen to the left of the frame.
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. Photo credit: NASA
Telstar 3-D communications satellite deploying from Discovery's payload bay. Cloudy Earth's surface can be seen to the left of the frame.
51I-32-059 (27 August 1985) --- The American Satellite Company (ASC) communications satellite rises from the cargo bay at 6:54 a.m. August 27, 1985.
View of the Syncom-IV (LEASAT) satellite from the flight deck window taken by Astronaut S. David Griggs.
Astronat Dale A. Gardner achieves a hard dock with the previously spinning Westar VI satellite. Gardner uses a "stinger" device to stabilize the communications satellite.
51I-S-237 (1 Sept. 1985) --- A still photo made from a video downlink shows astronaut James D. van Hoften, just after giving a shove to the Syncom IV-3 communications satellite. NASA's 51-I astronaut crew aboard the space shuttle Discovery had earlier captured and repaired the previously errant satellite. Photo credit: NASA
51I-44-014 (31 Aug-1 Sept. 1985) --- This photograph is one of a series of six covering extravehicular activity (EVA) which were released by NASA on Sept. 4, 1985. Here, astronaut James D. van Hoften, dwarfed by the large satellite, moves in for initial contact. Astronaut John M. (Mike) Lounge, out of frame inside cabin, maneuvers the remote manipulator system (RMS) arm to assist astronauts van Hoften and William F. Fisher. Photo credit: NASA
51A-104-008 (14 Nov 1984) --- Astronaut Dale A. Gardner appears to be under the remote manipulator system (RMS) end effector as he makes a turn in space and prepared to traverse, using the manned maneuvering unit (MMU) backpack, to the nearby Westar VI to "Sting" it with the device he carries. The stringer will enter the communications satellite through the nozzle of the spent motor. Gardner achieved a hard dock at 6:32 A.M. and this picture was photographed about five minutes earlier, on Nov. 14, 1984.
51I-102-029 (31 August - 1 September 1985) --- This is one of a series of six photographs released by NASA covering the extravehicular activity (EVA) of astronauts James D. van Hoften and William F. Fisher, who helped to capture, repair and release the previously errant Syncom IV-3 communications satellite. Here, Dr. van Hoften has just given a shove to the the Syncom. (For orientation, moon should be in lower right quadrant).
51I-102-033 (31 August - 1 September 1985) --- This is one of a series of six photographs released by NASA covering the extravehicular activity (EVA) of astronauts James D. van Hoften and William F. Fisher, who helped to capture, repair and release the previously errant Syncom IV-3 communications satellite. Here, Dr. van Hoften has just given a shove to the the Syncom. (For orientation, moon should be in lower right quadrant).
STS026-31-071 (3 Oct 1988) --- After deployment from Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, the inertial upper stage (IUS) with the tracking and data relay satellite C (TDRS-C) drifts above the cloud-covered Earth surface. TDRS-C, in stowed configuration (solar array panels visible), is mounted atop the IUS with the interstage and solid rocket motor and nozzle seen in the foreground.
Astronaut Karen Nyberg, Expedition 36 flight engineer, conducts a session with the bowling-ball-sized free-flying satellite known as Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or SPHERES in the International Space Stations Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Kibo laboratory. Also sent as Twitter message.
S77-E-5066 (22 May 1996) --- Astronaut Curtis L. Brown, Jr., pilot, is seen on the starboard side of the Space Shuttle Endeavour's aft flight deck just prior to the deployment of the Satellite Test Unit (STU), part of the Passive Aerodynamically Stabilized Magnetically Damped Satellite (PAMS). Brown's image was captured with an Electronic Still Camera (ESC). Minutes later the camera was being used to document the deployment of PAMS-STU. The six-member crew will continue operations (tracking, rendezvousing and station-keeping) with PAMS-STU periodically throughout the remainder of the mission.
STS064-33-003 (9-20 Sept. 1994) --- Astronaut Susan J. Helms, STS-64 mission specialist, uses a laser instrument during operations with the Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for Astronomy 201 (SPARTAN 201). Helms, who spent many mission hours at the controls of the Remote Manipulator System (RMS), joined five other NASA astronauts for almost 11 days in Earth orbit aboard the space shuttle Discovery. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration
STS005-38-943 (17 Nov. 1982) --- The Satellite Business Systems (SBS-3) satellte is deployed from its protective cradle in the cargo bay of the space shuttle Columbia. Part of Columbia's wings can be seen on both the port and starboard sides. Part of both orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pods are seen at center. The vertical stabilizer is obscured by the satellite. Photo credit: NASA
STS060-93-043 (9 Feb 1994) --- BREMSAT, a 140 pound (63 kilogram) satellite, quickly leaves the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle Discovery. The 480 mm (19 inch) deployable satellite was built by the University of Bremen's Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) under sponsorship of the German Space Agency (DARA). A modified ejection system in one of the payload bay's getaway special (GAS) type canisters aided the STS-60 crew members in deploying the satellite toward the end of their eight-day mission in Earth orbit.
STS064-76-035 (15 Sept. 1994) --- Backdropped against the darkness of space, the Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for Astronomy 201 (SPARTAN-201) satellite is lined up with the space shuttle Discovery's Remote Manipulator System (RMS) arm for re-capture. The free-flying spacecraft had remained some 40 miles away from Discovery for over two days. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration
STS075-325-014 (25 Feb. 1996) --- The frayed end of the tether portion of the Tethered Satellite System (TSS) is seen at the end of the supportive boom. On February 25, 1996, the crew deployed the TSS, which later broke free. The seven member crew was launched aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia on February 22, 1996, and landed on March 9, 1996. Crewmembers were Andrew M. Allen, mission commander; Scott J. Horowitz, pilot; Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, payload commander; and Maurizio Cheli, European Space Agency (ESA); Jeffrey A. Hoffman and Claude Nicollier (ESA), all mission specialists; along with payload specialist Umberto Guidoni of the Italian Space Agency (ASI).
STS064-111-041 (12 Sept. 1994) ---- Backdropped against New England's coast, the Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for Astronomy (SPARTAN-201) satellite begins its separation from the space shuttle Discovery. The free-flying spacecraft, 130 nautical miles above Cape Cod at frame center, remained some 40 miles away from Discovery until the crew retrieved it two days later. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration
61B-38-36W (28 Nov 1985) --- The 4,144-pound RCA Satcom K-2 communications satellite is photographed as it spins from the cargo bay of the Earth-orbiting Atlantis. A TV camera at right records the deployment for a later playback to Earth. This frame was photographed with a handheld Hasselblad camera inside the spacecraft.
41D-39-068 (1 Sept 1984) --- Quickly moving away from the Space Shuttle Discovery is the Telstar 3 communications satellite, deployed September 1, 1984. The 41-D crew successfully completed three satellite placements, of which this was the last. Telstar was the second 41-D deployed satellite to be equipped with a payload assist module (PAM-D). The frame was exposed with a 70mm camera.
Spartan I satellte sits in the Discovery's payload bay prior to being deployed. Above it can be seen the remote manipulator system (RMS) arm and end effector. The Earth's horizon can also be seen above the orbiter.
This Space Shuttle Orbiter Atlantis (STS-46) onboard photo shows Swiss scientist Claude Nicollier of the European Space Agency (ESA) supporting the Tether Opitical Phenomena (TOP) activities on the flight deck. The Tethered Satellite System (TSS) was a cooperative development effort by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and NASA made capable of deploying and retrieving a satellite which is attached by a wire tether from distances up to 100 km from the Orbiter. These free-flying satellites are used as observation platforms outside of the Orbiter.
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.
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.
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, astronaut Kathryn Thornton is working on the Assembly of Station by EVA Methods (ASEM) in the cargo bay.
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. This onboard photo captures the free flying INTELSAT IV.
During STS-26, inertial upper stage (IUS) with the tracking and data relay satellite C (TDRS-C) drifts above Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, payload bay (PLB) after being positioned in deployment attitude (an angle of 50 degrees) by the airborne support equipment (ASE). IUS vacates the ASE aft frame tilt actuator (AFTA) table in the PLB while the disconnected ASE umbilical boom floats above ASE forward cradle. IUS first stage rocket motor and nozzle and the interstage are visible as the IUS is deployed. In the background are the orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pods and the Earth's limb.
51I-44-081 (1 Sept 1985) --- Astronaut James D. van Hoften on the Discovery's remote manipulator system (RMS) arm visually tracks the distant Syncom IV-3 communications satellite after its second release, on Sept. 1, 1985.
STS006-38-894 (4 April 1983) --- The tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS) leaves the 18-meter (60-ft) long cargo bay of the Earth-orbiting space shuttle Challenger about ten hours following launch of NASA’s second reusable space vehicle. The inertial upper stage (IUS) which gives power necessary to place the TDRS in its desired orbit is clearly seen in this view, photographed with a 70mm camera aimed through the aft flight deck windows of the Challenger. The cylindrical canisters in the left foreground contain scientific experiments from subscribers to NASA’s getaway special (GAS) program. Photo credit: NASA
51I-41-086 (1 September 1985) --- Astronaut James D. van Hoften, mission specialist, flexes his muscles in celebration of a triumphant extravehicular task. Clouds over the ocean form the backdrop for this 70mm scene, toward the end of a two-day effort to capture, repair and release the previously errant Syncom IV-3 communications satellite. Van Hoften, anchored to a special foot restraint device on the end of Discovery's Remote Manipulator System (RMS), had just performed the final "shove" that started the relative separation of the Shuttle and the Syncom, which is not far out of frame. He had been joined by astronaut William F. Fisher for the busy two days of EVA.
One of the STS-51 astronauts used a "fish-eye" lens on a 35mm cmaera to photograph this view of Hurricane Kenneth in the Pacific Ocean. The Orbiting Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer/Shuttle Pallet Satellite (ORFEUS/SPAS) is still in the cargo bay. The Remote Manipulator System (RMS) is extended towards the open payload bay.
During STS-26, inertial upper stage (IUS) with the tracking and data relay satellite C (TDRS-C) located in the payload bay (PLB) of Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, is raised into deployment attitude (an angle of 50 degrees) by the airborne support equipment (ASE). ASE aft frame tilt actuator (AFTA) table supports the IUS as it is positioned in the PLB and the ASE umbilical boom drifts away from IUS toward ASE forward cradle. TDRS-C solar array panels (in stowed configuration) are visible on top of the IUS. In the background are the orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pods and the Earth's limb.
STS064-74-052 (9-20 Sept. 1994) --- Astronauts onboard the space shuttle Discovery used a 70mm camera to capture this photograph of the retrieval operations with the Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for Astronomy 201 (SPARTAN 201). A gibbous moon can be seen in the background. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration
STS064-111-070 (9-20 Sept. 1994) --- The astronauts onboard the space shuttle Discovery used a 70mm camera to capture this view of the pre-deploy operations with the Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for Astronomy (SPARTAN-201) 201. In the grasp of the robot arm device of the Remote Manipulator System (RMS), SPARTAN 201 hovers above Discovery's cargo bay prior to its two days of free-flight, some 40 miles away from the parent spacecraft. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration
During STS-26, inertial upper stage (IUS) with tracking and data relay satellite C (TDRS-C) located in the payload bay (PLB) of Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, is positioned into its proper deployment attitude (an angle of 50 degrees) by the airborne support equipment (ASE). In the foreground, the ASE forward cradle is visible. The IUS is mounted in the ASE aft frame tilt actuator (AFTA) table. TDRS-C components in stowed configuration include solar array panels, TDRS single access #1 and #2, TDRS SGL, and S-Band omni antenna. In the background are the orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pods, the Earth's cloud-covered surface, and the Earth's limb.
STS007-18-770 (18-24 June 1983) --- Telesat-F communications satellite is just about to clear the vertical stabilizer of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger to begin its way toward its Earth-orbital destination.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) spacecraft is placed on a work stand for processing activities. The spacecraft was developed for NASA by Orbital Sciences Corporation in Dulles, Va., to prove technologies for locating and maneuvering near an orbiting satellite. DART will be launched on a Pegasus launch vehicle. At about 40,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean, the Pegasus will be released from Orbital’s Stargazer L-1011 aircraft, fire its rocket motors and boost DART into a polar orbit approximately 472 miles by 479 miles. Once in orbit, DART will rendezvous with a target satellite, the Multiple Paths, Beyond-Line-of-Site Communications satellite, also built by Orbital Sciences. DART will then perform several close proximity operations, such as moving toward and away from the satellite using navigation data provided by onboard sensors. DART is scheduled for launch no earlier than Oct. 18.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) spacecraft is raised to a vertical position. It will be lifted onto a test stand for launch processing activities. The spacecraft was developed for NASA by Orbital Sciences Corporation in Dulles, Va., to prove technologies for locating and maneuvering near an orbiting satellite. DART will be launched on a Pegasus launch vehicle. At about 40,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean, the Pegasus will be released from Orbital’s Stargazer L-1011 aircraft, fire its rocket motors and boost DART into a polar orbit approximately 472 miles by 479 miles. Once in orbit, DART will rendezvous with a target satellite, the Multiple Paths, Beyond-Line-of-Site Communications satellite, also built by Orbital Sciences. DART will then perform several close proximity operations, such as moving toward and away from the satellite using navigation data provided by onboard sensors. DART is scheduled for launch no earlier than Oct. 18.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) spacecraft is on a work stand waiting for processing activities. The spacecraft was developed for NASA by Orbital Sciences Corporation in Dulles, Va., to prove technologies for locating and maneuvering near an orbiting satellite. DART will be launched on a Pegasus launch vehicle. At about 40,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean, the Pegasus will be released from Orbital’s Stargazer L-1011 aircraft, fire its rocket motors and boost DART into a polar orbit approximately 472 miles by 479 miles. Once in orbit, DART will rendezvous with a target satellite, the Multiple Paths, Beyond-Line-of-Site Communications satellite, also built by Orbital Sciences. DART will then perform several close proximity operations, such as moving toward and away from the satellite using navigation data provided by onboard sensors. DART is scheduled for launch no earlier than Oct. 18.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) spacecraft is raised to a vertical position. It will be lifted onto a test stand for launch processing activities. The spacecraft was developed for NASA by Orbital Sciences Corporation in Dulles, Va., to prove technologies for locating and maneuvering near an orbiting satellite. DART will be launched on a Pegasus launch vehicle. At about 40,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean, the Pegasus will be released from Orbital’s Stargazer L-1011 aircraft, fire its rocket motors and boost DART into a polar orbit approximately 472 miles by 479 miles. Once in orbit, DART will rendezvous with a target satellite, the Multiple Paths, Beyond-Line-of-Site Communications satellite, also built by Orbital Sciences. DART will then perform several close proximity operations, such as moving toward and away from the satellite using navigation data provided by onboard sensors. DART is scheduled for launch no earlier than Oct. 18.
STS049-91-026 (13 May 1992) --- Three astronauts hold onto the 4.5-ton Intelsat VI satellite after a six-handed "capture" was made minutes earlier. Left to right are astronauts Richard J. Hieb, Thomas D. Akers and Pierre J. Thuot. Thuot stands on the end of the remote manipulator system arm, from which he had made two earlier unsuccessful grapple attempts on two-person extravehicular activity sessions. Ground controllers and crew members agreed that a third attempt, using three mission specialists in the cargo bay of the space shuttle Endeavour, was the effort needed to accomplish the capture feat.
51I-102-048 (4-5 Sept 1985) --- A 35mm frame showing astronaut William F. Fisher standing on the edge of Discovery's cargo bay (in foot restraint) during the second day of a two-day effort to capture, repair and re-release the Syncom IV-3 communications satellite. Astronaut James D. van Hoften, standing on the Discovery's RMS arm, exposed the frame.
41C-37-1711 (11 April 1984) --- The two mission specialist-EVA participants of Flight 41-C share a repair task at the "captured" Solar Maximum Mission Satellite (SMMS) in the aft end of the Challenger's cargo bay. Astronauts George D. Nelson, right, and James D. van Hoften uses the mobile foot restraint and the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) as a "cherry picker" device for moving about. Later, the RMS lifted the SMMS into space once more.
41C-52-2646 (11 April 1984) --- Astronaut James D. van Hoften and a repaired satellite are in a wide panorama recorded on film with a Linhof camera, making its initial flight aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. Dr. van Hoften is getting in his first "field" test of the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) after months of training in an underwater facility and in a simulator on Earth. The Solar Maximum Mission Satellite (SMMS), revived and almost ready for release into space once more, is docked at the Flight Support System (FSS). The Remote Manipulator System (RMS) is backdropped against the blue and white Earth at frame's edge. Outside of pictures made of the Earth from astronauts on the way to the Moon, this frame showing the planet from 285 nautical miles represents the highest orbital photography in the manned space program.
STS049-91-029 (13 May 1992) --- Following the successful capture of Intelsat VI satellite, three astronauts continue their chores toward moving the 4.5 ton communications satellite into the space shuttle Endeavour's cargo bay. A fellow crew member recorded this 70mm still frame from inside Endeavour's cabin. Left to right, astronauts Richard J. Hieb, Thomas D. Akers and Pierre J. Thuot, cooperate on the effort to attach a specially designed grapple bar underneath the satellite. Thuot stands on the end of the Remote Manipulator System's (RMS) arm while Hieb and Akers are on Portable Foot Restraints (PFR) affixed to Endeavour's portside and the Multipurpose Support Structure (MPESS), respectively. The sections of Earth which form the backdrop for the scene are blanketed with thousands of square miles of clouds. Photo credit: NASA
51D-04-015 (15 April 1985) --- Astronaut Rhea Seddon and Karol J. Bobko continue work on snag-type extension for the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) as part of an effort to activate a lever on a troubled communications satellite. Since the crew learned soon after deployment of the Syncom IV (LEASAT) spacecraft that it was not functioning properly plans were formulated for a rendezvous in space between the Discovery and the satellite. A fly swatter-like extension and another resembling a LaCrosse stick were fashioned from onboard supplies and furnishings. Stowage lockers nearby serve as a work bench for the two. At various times during the seven-day mission, the majority of the seven-member crew participated in the tool-making and preparations for an extravehicular activity (EVA) by the flights other two mission specialists -- Jeffrey A. Hoffman and S. David Griggs -- to connect the two tools to the RMS. Bobko is mission commander and Dr. Seddon, a mission specialist.
Astronauts Frank L. Culbertson Jr., STS-51 mission commander, and Daniel W. Bursch, mission specialist, are seen on Discovery's flight deck. The two were supporting operations free-flying Orbiting and Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer (ORFEUS) and its Shuttle Pallet Satellite (SPAS), pictured through the left window.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Astrotech in Titusville, Fla., the GOES-N satellite begins rotation. Since its arrival on March 11, the satellite has been undergoing final testing by Boeing Satellite Systems of the imaging system, instrumentation, communications and power systems. Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) are sponsored by the NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. GOES-N is targeted to launch May 4 onboard a Boeing expendable launch vehicle Delta IV (4,2) with a 3-burn second stage operation. Once in orbit GOES-N will be designated GOES-13 and will complete checkout and be placed in on-orbit storage as a replacement for an older GOES satellite. GOES-N is the first in the next series of GOES satellites, N-P. The multi-mission GOES series N-P will be a vital contributor to weather, solar and space operations and science. The GOES N-P series will aid activities ranging from severe storm warnings to resource management and advances in science.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Astrotech in Titusville, Fla., technicians closely check the progress of the rotation of the GOES-N satellite. Since its arrival on March 11, the satellite has been undergoing final testing by Boeing Satellite Systems of the imaging system, instrumentation, communications and power systems. Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) are sponsored by the NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. GOES-N is targeted to launch May 4 onboard a Boeing expendable launch vehicle Delta IV (4,2) with a 3-burn second stage operation. Once in orbit GOES-N will be designated GOES-13 and will complete checkout and be placed in on-orbit storage as a replacement for an older GOES satellite. GOES-N is the first in the next series of GOES satellites, N-P. The multi-mission GOES series N-P will be a vital contributor to weather, solar and space operations and science. The GOES N-P series will aid activities ranging from severe storm warnings to resource management and advances in science.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The GOES-N satellite is checked out on the rotation stand at Astrotech in Titusville, Fla. Since its arrival on March 11, the satellite has been undergoing final testing by Boeing Satellite Systems of the imaging system, instrumentation, communications and power systems. Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) are sponsored by the NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. GOES-N is targeted to launch May 4 onboard a Boeing expendable launch vehicle Delta IV (4,2) with a 3-burn second stage operation. Once in orbit GOES-N will be designated GOES-13 and will complete checkout and be placed in on-orbit storage as a replacement for an older GOES satellite. GOES-N is the first in the next series of GOES satellites, N-P. The multi-mission GOES series N-P will be a vital contributor to weather, solar and space operations and science. The GOES N-P series will aid activities ranging from severe storm warnings to resource management and advances in science.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Astrotech in Titusville, Fla., the GOES-N satellite has completed rotation. Since its arrival on March 11, the satellite has been undergoing final testing by Boeing Satellite Systems of the imaging system, instrumentation, communications and power systems. Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) are sponsored by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. GOES-N is targeted to launch May 4 onboard a Boeing expendable launch vehicle Delta IV (4,2) with a 3-burn second stage operation. Once in orbit GOES-N will be designated GOES-13 and will complete checkout and be placed in on-orbit storage as a replacement for an older GOES satellite. GOES-N is the first in the next series of GOES satellites, N-P. The multi-mission GOES series N-P will be a vital contributor to weather, solar and space operations and science. The GOES N-P series will aid activities ranging from severe storm warnings to resource management and advances in science.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The GOES-N satellite is checked out on the rotation stand at Astrotech in Titusville, Fla. Since its arrival on March 11, the satellite has been undergoing final testing by Boeing Satellite Systems of the imaging system, instrumentation, communications and power systems. Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) are sponsored by the NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. GOES-N is targeted to launch May 4 onboard a Boeing expendable launch vehicle Delta IV (4,2) with a 3-burn second stage operation. Once in orbit GOES-N will be designated GOES-13 and will complete checkout and be placed in on-orbit storage as a replacement for an older GOES satellite. GOES-N is the first in the next series of GOES satellites, N-P. The multi-mission GOES series N-P will be a vital contributor to weather, solar and space operations and science. The GOES N-P series will aid activities ranging from severe storm warnings to resource management and advances in science.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Astrotech in Titusville, Fla., technicians closely check the progress of the rotation of the GOES-N satellite. Since its arrival on March 11, the satellite has been undergoing final testing by Boeing Satellite Systems of the imaging system, instrumentation, communications and power systems. Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) are sponsored by the NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. GOES-N is targeted to launch May 4 onboard a Boeing expendable launch vehicle Delta IV (4,2) with a 3-burn second stage operation. Once in orbit GOES-N will be designated GOES-13 and will complete checkout and be placed in on-orbit storage as a replacement for an older GOES satellite. GOES-N is the first in the next series of GOES satellites, N-P. The multi-mission GOES series N-P will be a vital contributor to weather, solar and space operations and science. The GOES N-P series will aid activities ranging from severe storm warnings to resource management and advances in science.
This STS-80 onboard photograph shows the Orbiting Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer-Shuttle Pallet Satellite II (ORFEUS-SPAS II), photographed during approach by the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia for retrieval. Built by the German Space Agency, DARA, the ORFEUS-SPAS II, a free-flying satellite, was dedicated to astronomical observations at very short wavelengths to: investigate the nature of hot stellar atmospheres, investigate the cooling mechanisms of white dwarf stars, determine the nature of accretion disks around collapsed stars, investigate supernova remnants, and investigate the interstellar medium and potential star-forming regions. Some 422 observations of almost 150 astronomical objects were completed, including the Moon, nearby stars, distant Milky Way stars, stars in other galaxies, active galaxies, and quasar 3C273. The STS-80 mission was launched November 19, 1996.
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. This onboard photo depicts Florida’s Atlantic coast and the Cape Canaveral area as the backdrop for this scene of the INTELSAT VI’s approach to the Shuttle Endeavour.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) spacecraft is prepared for rotation from horizontal to vertical. It will be lifted onto a test stand for launch processing activities. The spacecraft was developed for NASA by Orbital Sciences Corporation in Dulles, Va., to prove technologies for locating and maneuvering near an orbiting satellite. DART will be launched on a Pegasus launch vehicle. At about 40,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean, the Pegasus will be released from Orbital’s Stargazer L-1011 aircraft, fire its rocket motors and boost DART into a polar orbit approximately 472 miles by 479 miles. Once in orbit, DART will rendezvous with a target satellite, the Multiple Paths, Beyond-Line-of-Site Communications satellite, also built by Orbital Sciences. DART will then perform several close proximity operations, such as moving toward and away from the satellite using navigation data provided by onboard sensors. DART is scheduled for launch no earlier than Oct. 18.
41D-36-034 (30 Aug 1984) --- Less than nine hours after the first launch of the Discovery, its astronaut crewmembers photographed deployment of the SBS-4 communications satellite. The cylindrical spacecraft spins and rises from its cradle-like protective shield to begin life in space. A number of maneuvers will place it in its desired orbit. A 70mm camera, aimed through the spacecraft’s aft flight deck windows, was used to expose the frame.
STS008-49-1724 (31 Aug 1983) --- The Indian National Satellite (INSAT) is about to clear the vertical stabilizer of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger and on its way to a higher orbit. The STS-8 mission's Payload Flight Test Article (PFTA) displays the U.S. flag in the middle of the cargo bay, as the Canadian built Remote Manipulator System (RMS) appears to be waiting for its busy agenda of activity with the barbell-shaped test device. This 70mm frame was exposed by a crewmember using a handheld Hasselblad inside Challenger's cabin.
STS008-49-1722 (30 Aug-5 Sept 1983) --- The Indian National Satellite (INSAT) is about to clear the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger this 70mm frame exposed with a handheld camera from the aft flight deck. The Payload Flight Test Article (PFTA) displays the United States flag in the middle of the cargo bay and the Canadian built Remote Manipulator System (RMS) appears to be waiting for its busy agenda of activity with the barbell-shaped test device.
41D-37-050 (1 Sept 1984) --- Telstar, the third of three satellites to be placed into space via the Earth-orbiting Discovery, departs from the cargo bay of the manned vehicle during 41-D's third day in space. The scene was photographed at 9:35 a.m. (CDT), Sept. 1, 1984, with a 70mm handheld hasselblad camera aimed through the windows on the flight deck. Heavy clouds cover much of the water and land mass of Earth in the background.
STS039-11-027 (28 April-6 May 1991) --- Astronaut Michael L. Coats, STS-39 mission commander, is seen in a close-up 35mm frame on the aft flight deck of the Earth-orbiting space shuttle Discovery. Out the overhead window, the SPAS-II hovers on the end of the remote manipulator system (RMS, out of frame). Inside the window, just above Coats' head is the Crewman Optical Alignment Sight (COAS), an optical device that aids in navigation. Photo credit: NASA
STS049-91-020 (13 May 1992) --- The successful capture of Intelsat VI satellite is recorded over Mexico on this 70mm frame, from inside the Space Shuttle Endeavour's cabin. Left to right, astronauts Richard J. Hieb, Thomas D. Akers and Pierre J. Thuot have handholds on the satellite. Ground coverage in the frame includes an area from Hermosillo, Sonara to Los Mochis in the state of Sinaloa. The nine-day mission accomplished the capture of the Intelsat, subsequent mating of the satellite to a booster and its eventual deployment, as well as a Space Station Freedom preview Extravehicular Activity (EVA). Endeavour's crew members were astronauts Daniel C. Brandenstein, mission commander; Kevin P. Chilton, pilot; and Thomas D. Akers, Richard J. Hieb, Bruce E. Melnick, Kathryn C. Thornton and Pierre J. Thuot, all mission specialists.
STS077-S-045 (29 May 1996) --- As its main landing gear touches down on Runway 33 at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), the Space Shuttle Endeavour marks its return to Earth following a ten-day mission in space. Touchdown came at 7:09 a.m. (EDT), May 29, 1996. Leading the crew onboard was astronaut John H. Casper, mission commander. Other crew members were astronauts Curtis L. Brown, Jr., pilot; along with Daniel W. Bursch, Mario Runco, Jr., Andrew S. W. Thomas and Marc Garneau, all mission specialists. Garneau represents the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). During the approximately 10-day mission, the crew performed a variety of payload activities, including microgravity research aboard the Spacehab 4 Module, deployment and retrieval of the Spartan 207 and deployment and rendezvous with the Passive Aerodynamically-Stabilized Magnetically-Damped Satellite (PAMS).
STS077-S-011 (29 May 1996) --- As its main landing gear touches down on Runway 33 at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), the Space Shuttle Endeavour returns to Florida following a ten-day mission in space. Touchdown came at 7:09 a.m. (EDT), May 29, 1996. Leading the crew onboard was astronaut John H. Casper, mission commander. Other crew members were astronauts Curtis L. Brown, Jr., pilot; along with Daniel W. Bursch, Mario Runco, Jr., Andrew S. W. Thomas and Marc Garneau, all mission specialists. Garneau represents the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). During the approximately 10-day mission, the crew performed a variety of payload activities, including microgravity research aboard the Spacehab 4 Module, deployment and retrieval of the Spartan 207 and deployment and rendezvous with the Passive Aerodynamically-Stabilized Magnetically-Damped Satellite (PAMS).
STS077-S-012 (29 May 1996) --- As its drag chute is released on Runway 33 at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), the Space Shuttle Endeavour marks its return to Earth following a ten-day mission in space. Touchdown came at 7:09 a.m. (EDT), May 29, 1996. Leading the crew onboard was astronaut John H. Casper, mission commander. Other crew members were astronauts Curtis L. Brown, Jr., pilot; along with Daniel W. Bursch, Mario Runco, Jr., Andrew S. W. Thomas and Marc Garneau, all mission specialists. Garneau represents the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). During the approximately 10-day mission, the crew performed a variety of payload activities, including microgravity research aboard the Spacehab 4 Module, deployment and retrieval of the Spartan 207 and deployment and rendezvous with the Passive Aerodynamically-Stabilized Magnetically-Damped Satellite (PAMS).
STS077-S-005 (19 May 1996) --- As seen through the ?fish-eye? lens of a 35mm camera at the service structure, the Space Shuttle Endeavour lifts off with six astronauts aboard. It was headed toward the fourth NASA Space Shuttle mission of the year. The launch occurred at 6:30:00 a.m. (EDT), May 19, 1996. Leading the crew onboard is astronaut John H. Casper, mission commander. Other crew members are astronauts Curtis L. Brown, Jr., pilot; along with Daniel W. Bursch, Mario Runco, Jr., Andrew S. W. Thomas and Marc Garneau, all mission specialists. Garneau represents the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). During the approximately 10-day mission, the crew will perform a variety of payload activities, including microgravity research aboard the Spacehab 4 Module, deployment and retrieval of the Spartan 207 and deployment and rendezvous with the Passive Aerodynamically-Stabilized Magnetically-Damped Satellite (PAMS).
STS077-S-004 (19 May 1996) --- The Space Shuttle Endeavour lifts off with six astronauts headed toward the fourth NASA Space Shuttle mission of the year. The launch occurred at 6:30:00 a.m. (EDT), May 19, 1996. Heading the crew onboard is astronaut John H. Casper, mission commander. Other crew members are astronauts Curtis L. Brown, Jr., pilot; along with Daniel W. Bursch, Mario Runco, Jr., Andrew S. W. Thomas and Marc Garneau, all mission specialists. Garneau represents the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). During the approximately 10-day mission, the crew will perform a variety of payload activities, including microgravity research aboard the Spacehab 4 Module, deployment and retrieval of the Spartan 207 and deployment and rendezvous with the Passive Aerodynamically-Stabilized Magnetically-Damped Satellite (PAMS).
The crew assigned to the STS-61B mission included Bryan D. O’Conner, pilot; Brewster H. Shaw, commander; Charles D. Walker, payload specialist; mission specialists Jerry L. Ross, Mary L. Cleave, and Sherwood C. Spring; and Rodolpho Neri Vela, payload specialist. Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis November 28, 1985 at 7:29:00 pm (EST), the STS-61B mission’s primary payload included three communications satellites: MORELOS-B (Mexico); AUSSAT-2 (Australia); and SATCOM KU-2 (RCA Americom). Two experiments were conducted to test assembling erectable structures in space: EASE (Experimental Assembly of Structures in Extravehicular Activity), and ACCESS (Assembly Concept for Construction of Erectable Space Structure). In a joint venture between NASA/Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia and the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), EASE and ACCESS were developed and demonstrated at MSFC's Neutral Buoyancy Simulator (NBS). The primary objective of this experiment was to test the structural assembly concepts for suitability as the framework for larger space structures and to identify ways to improve the productivity of space construction. In this STS-61B onboard photo, astronaut Ross was working on the ACCESS experiment during an Extravehicular Activity (EVA).
NASA's SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive) satellite observatory conducted a field experiment as part of its soil moisture data product validation program in southern Arizona on Aug. 2-18, 2015. The images here represent the distribution of soil moisture over the SMAPVEX15 (SMAP Validation Experiment 2015) experiment domain, as measured by the Passive Active L-band System (PALS) developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, which was installed onboard a DC-3 aircraft operated by Airborne Imaging, Inc. Blue and green colors denote wet conditions and dry conditions are marked by red and orange. The black lines show the nominal flight path of PALS. The measurements show that on the first day, the domain surface was wet overall, but had mostly dried down by the second measurement day. On the third day, there was a mix of soil wetness. The heterogeneous soil moisture distribution over the domain is typical for the area during the North American Monsoon season and provides excellent conditions for SMAP soil moisture product validation and algorithm enhancement. The images are based on brightness temperature measured by the PALS instrument gridded on a grid with 0.6-mile (1-kilometer) pixel size. They do not yet compensate for surface characteristics, such as vegetation and topography. That work is currently in progress. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA19879
The crew assigned to the STS-61B mission included Bryan D. O’Conner, pilot; Brewster H. Shaw, commander; Charles D. Walker, payload specialist; mission specialists Jerry L. Ross, Mary L. Cleave, and Sherwood C. Spring; and Rodolpho Neri Vela, payload specialist. Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis November 28, 1985 at 7:29:00 pm (EST), the STS-61B mission’s primary payload included three communications satellites: MORELOS-B (Mexico); AUSSAT-2 (Australia); and SATCOM KU-2 (RCA Americom). Two experiments were conducted to test assembling erectable structures in space: EASE (Experimental Assembly of Structures in Extravehicular Activity), and ACCESS (Assembly Concept for Construction of Erectable Space Structure). In a joint venture between NASA/Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, and the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), the EASE and ACCESS were developed and demonstrated at MSFC's Neutral Buoyancy Simulator (NBS). In this STS-61B onboard photo, astronaut Spring was working on the EASE during an Extravehicular Activity (EVA). The primary objective of this experiment was to test the structural assembly concepts for suitability as the framework for larger space structures and to identify ways to improve the productivity of space construction.
Atmospheric methane is a potent greenhouse gas, but the percentage of it produced through human activities is still poorly understood. Future instruments on orbiting satellites can help address this issue by surveying human-produced methane emissions. Recent data from the Aliso Canyon event, a large accidental methane release near Porter Ranch, California, demonstrates this capability. The Hyperion imaging spectrometer onboard NASA's EO-1 satellite successfully detected this release event on three different overpasses during the winter of 2015-2016. This is the first time the methane plume from a single facility has been observed from space. The orbital observations were consistent with airborne measurements. This image pair shows a comparison of detected methane plumes over Aliso Canyon, California, acquired 11 days apart in Jan. 2016 by: (left) NASA's AVIRIS instrument on a NASA ER-2 aircraft at 4.1 miles (6.6 kilometers) altitude and (right) by the Hyperion instrument on NASA's Earth Observing-1 satellite in low-Earth orbit. The additional red streaks visible in the EO-1 Hyperion image result from measurement noise -- Hyperion was not specifically designed for methane sensing and is not as sensitive as AVIRIS-NG. Additionally, the EO-1 satellite's current orbit provided poor illumination conditions. Future instruments with much greater sensitivity on orbiting satellites can survey the biggest sources of human-produced methane around the world. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA20716
STS077-S-007 (19 May 1996) --- In this air-to-air 70mm frame, the Space Shuttle Endeavour is captured atop a trail of smoke as it carries six astronauts toward the fourth NASA Space Shuttle mission of the year. The photograph was taken from the Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) which routinely checks the Florida environs for weather and safety factors. The launch occurred at 6:30:00 a.m. (EDT), May 19, 1996. Heading the six-member crew onboard is astronaut John H. Casper, mission commander. Other crew members are astronauts Curtis L. Brown, Jr., pilot; along with Daniel W. Bursch, Mario Runco, Jr., Andrew S. W. Thomas and Marc Garneau, all mission specialists. Garneau represents the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). During the approximately 10-day mission, the crew will perform a variety of payload activities, including microgravity research aboard the Spacehab 4 Module, deployment and retrieval of the Spartan 207 and deployment and rendezvous with the Passive Aerodynamically-Stabilized Magnetically-Damped Satellite (PAMS).
STS053-09-019 (2 - 9 Dec 1992) --- A medium close-up view of part of the Fluid Acquisition and Resupply Equipment (FARE) onboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. Featured in the mid-deck FARE setup is fluid activity in one of two 12.5-inch spherical tanks made of transparent acrylic. Pictured is the receiver tank. The other tank, out of frame below, is for supplying fluids. The purpose of FARE is to investigate the dynamics of fluid transfer in microgravity and develop methods for transferring vapor-free propellants and other liquids that must be replenished in long-term space systems like satellites, Extended-Duration Orbiters (EDO), and Space Station Freedom. Eight times over an eight-hour test period, the mission specialists conducted the FARE experiment. A sequence of manual valve operations caused pressurized air from the bottles to force fluids from the supply tank to the receiver tank and back again to the supply tank. Baffles in the receiver tank controlled fluid motion during transfer, a fine-mesh screen filtered vapor from the fluid, and the overboard vent removed vapor from the receiver tank as the liquid rose. FARE is managed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Alabama. The basic equipment was developed by Martin Marietta for the Storable Fluid Management Demonstration. Susan L. Driscoll is the principal investigator.
STS077-S-003 (19 May 1996) --- A remote 35mm camera provided this profile view of the Space Shuttle Endeavour?s lift-off. Headed toward the fourth NASA Space Shuttle mission of the year, Endeavour displays a diamond-shock effect of its three-main engines. The launch occurred at 6:30:00 a.m. (EDT), May 19, 1996. Heading the six-member crew onboard is astronaut John H. Casper, mission commander. Other crew members are astronauts Curtis L. Brown, Jr., pilot; along with Daniel W. Bursch, Mario Runco, Jr., Andrew S. W. Thomas and Marc Garneau, all mission specialists. Garneau represents the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). During the approximately 10-day mission, the crew will perform a variety of payload activities, including microgravity research aboard the Spacehab 4 Module, deployment and retrieval of the Spartan 207 and deployment and rendezvous with the Passive Aerodynamically-Stabilized Magnetically-Damped Satellite (PAMS).
The crew assigned to the STS-61B mission included Bryan D. O’Conner, pilot; Brewster H. Shaw, commander; Charles D. Walker, payload specialist; mission specialists Jerry L. Ross, Mary L. Cleave, and Sherwood C. Spring; and Rodolpho Neri Vela, payload specialist. Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis November 28, 1985 at 7:29:00 pm (EST), the STS-61B mission’s primary payload included three communications satellites: MORELOS-B (Mexico); AUSSAT-2 (Australia); and SATCOM KU-2 (RCA Americom). Two experiments were conducted to test assembling erectable structures in space: EASE (Experimental Assembly of Structures in Extravehicular Activity), and ACCESS (Assembly Concept for Construction of Erectable Space Structure). In a joint venture between NASA/Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, and the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), EASE and ACCESS were developed and demonstrated at MSFC's Neutral Buoyancy Simulator (NBS). In this STS-61B onboard photo, astronaut Ross works on ACCESS high above the orbiter. The primary objective of these experiments was to test the structural assembly concepts for suitability as the framework for larger space structures and to identify ways to improve the productivity of space construction.
The crew assigned to the STS-61B mission included Bryan D. O’Conner, pilot; Brewster H. Shaw, commander; Charles D. Walker, payload specialist; mission specialists Jerry L. Ross, Mary L. Cleave, and Sherwood C. Spring; and Rodolpho Neri Vela, payload specialist. Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis November 28, 1985 at 7:29:00 pm (EST), the STS-61B mission’s primary payload included three communications satellites: MORELOS-B (Mexico); AUSSAT-2 (Australia); and SATCOM KU-2 (RCA Americom). Two experiments were conducted to test assembling erectable structures in space: EASE (Experimental Assembly of Structures in Extravehicular Activity), and ACCESS (Assembly Concept for Construction of Erectable Space Structure). In a joint venture between NASA/Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia and the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), EASE and ACCESS were developed and demonstrated at MSFC's Neutral Buoyancy Simulator (NBS). In this STS-61B onboard photo astronaut Ross, located on the Manipulator Foot Restraint (MFR) over the cargo bay, erects ACCESS. The primary objective of this experiment was to test the structural assembly concepts for suitability as the framework for larger space structures and to identify ways to improve the productivity of space construction.
ISS038-E-005515 (16 Nov. 2013) --- Activity at Kliuchevskoi Volcano on Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Federation is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 38 crew member on the International Space Station. When viewing conditions are favorable, crew members onboard the space station can take unusual and striking images of Earth. This photograph provides a view of an eruption plume emanating from Kliuchevskoi Volcano, one of the many active volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Nadir views – looking “straight down”—that are typical of orbital satellite imagery tend to flatten the appearance of the landscape by reducing the sense of three dimensions of the topography. In contrast, this image was taken from the ISS with a very oblique viewing angle that gives a strong sense of three dimensions, which is accentuated by the shadows cast by the volcanic peaks. This resulted in a view similar to what a person might see from a low-altitude airplane. The image was taken when the space station was located over a ground position more than 1,500 kilometers to the southwest. The plume – likely a combination of steam, volcanic gases, and ash – is extended to the east-southeast by prevailing winds; the dark region to the north-northwest of the plume is likely a product of both shadow and ash settling out. Several other volcanoes are visible in the image, including Ushkovsky, Tolbachik, Zimina, and Udina. To the south-southwest of Kliuchevskoi lies Bezymianny Volcano which appears to be emitting a small steam plume (visible at center).
This is a radar image of the central part of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia that shows how the tropical rainforest typical of this country is being impacted by human activity. Native forest appears in green in this image, while prominent pink areas represent places where the native forest has been cleared. The large rectangular areas have been cleared for palm oil plantations. The bright pink zones are areas that have been cleared since 1989, while the dark pink zones are areas that were cleared before 1989. These radar data were processed as part of an effort to assist oil and gas companies working in the area to assess the environmental impact of both their drilling operations and the activities of the local population. Radar images are useful in these areas because heavy cloud cover and the persistent smoke and haze associated with deforestation have prevented usable visible-light imagery from being acquired since 1989. The dark shapes in the upper right (northeast) corner of the image are a chain of lakes in flat coastal marshes. This image was acquired in October 1994 by the Spaceborne Imaging Radar C/X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SIR-C/X-SAR) onboard the space shuttle Endeavour. Environmental changes can be easily documented by comparing this image with visible-light data that were acquired in previous years by the Landsat satellite. The image is centered at 0.9 degrees north latitude and 101.3 degrees east longitude. The area shown is 50 kilometers by 100 kilometers (31 miles by 62 miles). The colors in the image are assigned to different frequencies and polarizations of the radar as follows: red is L-band horizontally transmitted, horizontally received; green is L-band horizontally transmitted, vertically received; blue is L-band vertically transmitted, vertically received. SIR-C/X-SAR, a joint mission of the German, Italian and United States space agencies, is part of NASA's Mission to Planet Earth program. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA01797
Fires both wild and prescribed dot the landscape of the southeastern portion of the United States. Wildfires are those that occur naturally with lightning strikes or are set by careless humans. Prescribed fires are those deliberately set by land management authorities to take out underlying brush and dead grass so that in the event of a wildfire there is not sufficient fuel for that fire to spread too far. The Southern Area Coordination Center for fire management has this information on its report for February 21, 2017. • Fires that have broken out recently (known as Initial Attack Activity): 198 fires for 2,292 acres • Ongoing Uncontained Large Fires: 3 fires for 5,947 acres • Other Fires reported through alternate channels: 56 fires for 1,400 acres • Prescribed Fire Activity: State and/or Federal Lands – 1,974 prescribed fires for 38,533 acres in AL, FL & GA The bulk of the fires seen in the image taken by the Aqua satellite using the onboard MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) instrument on February 16, 2017 appear to be prescribed fires. Actively burning areas, detected by MODIS’s thermal bands, are outlined in red and when combined with smoke are indicative of fire. NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz LANCE/EOSDIS MODIS Rapid Response Team, GSFC. Caption by Lynn Jenner with information from the Southern Area Coordination Center. <b><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/audience/formedia/features/MP_Photo_Guidelines.html" rel="nofollow">NASA image use policy.</a></b> <b><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/home/index.html" rel="nofollow">NASA Goddard Space Flight Center</a></b> enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. <b>Follow us on <a href="http://twitter.com/NASAGoddardPix" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a></b> <b>Like us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Greenbelt-MD/NASA-Goddard/395013845897?ref=tsd" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a></b> <b>Find us on <a href="http://instagrid.me/nasagoddard/?vm=grid" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a></b>