61A-52-049 (30 Oct-6 Nov 1985) --- A 70mm image of the Strait of Dover area showing southeast England as photographed from the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger by the astronaut crew members of the STS-61A mission. Center point coordinates in the handheld Hasselblad scene are 45.5 degrees north latitude and 0.5 degrees east longitude. Five NASA astronauts were joined by three European scientists for the week-long space flight, marking the largest roster on any Shuttle mission to date.

61A-31-005 (30 Oct 1985) --- This almost vertical view, photographed from Earth-orbit by an STS-61A crew member, centers on the metropolis of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and some of the adjacent Lake Michigan shoreline, southward toward the Illinois border. The 70mm frame was photographed on the first day of the Spacelab D-1 mission with a handheld Hasselblad camera.

This insignia was chosen by the eight members of the STS-61A/D1 Spacelab mission to represent the record-sized Space Shuttle crew. Crewmembers surnames surround the colorful patch scene depicting Challenger carrying a long science module and an international crew from Europe and the United States.

Unofficial group photo of the STS-61A Crew and Ulf Merbold, Bldg. 9A; and, 1-G Trainer Cockpit. JSC, HOUSTON, TX Also available in 4x5 BW

61A-50-057 (1 Nov 1985) --- An oblique view of Hawaii, the largest of the Hawaiian Island Group, as photographed by the crewmembers of Challenger on STS-61A in November of 1985. This unusual early morning view shows nearly the entire island with minimal cloud cover. Normally, these near tropical islands are obscured by heavy cloud cover except for the early morning hours. UPDATE, NOVEMBER 28, 1986 PLEASE NOTE: The Kilauea fissure, on the southeast coast, while not as prominent as ancient, neighboring Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea craters, has been spewing a molten lava flow since July 18, 1986, at a rate of six cubic yards per second. Generally flowing toward the sea, the lava mass had reached the coast by today after destroying several homes and private property along the way. The seven-mile long lava flow covered over 600 feet of coastline and extended into the ocean, creating over 12 acres of new beachfront property.

The crew assigned to the STS-61A mission included (front row left to right) Reinhard Furrer, German payload specialist; Bonnie J. Dunbar, mission specialist; and Henry W. Hartsfield, Jr. commander. On the back row, left to right, are Steven R. Nagel, pilot; Guion S. Bluford, mission specialist; Ernst Messerscmid, German payload specialist; and Wubbo J. Ockels, Dutch payload specialist. Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on October 30, 1985 at 12:00:00 noon (EST), the STS-61A mission’s primary payload was the Spacelab D-1 (German Spacelab mission).

S85-38035 (August 1985) --- This insignia has been chosen by the eight members of the STS-61A/D1 Spacelab mission as the emblem they will wear on their spacesuits and which will represent the record-sized space shuttle crew on the scheduled autumn mission. Crew members' surnames surround the colorful patch scene depicting Challenger carrying a long science module and an international crew from Europe and the United States. Serving on the crew are Henry W. Hartsfield Jr., commander; Steven R. Nagel, pilot; Bonnie J. Dunbar, mission specialist; James F. Buchli, mission specialist; Guion S. Bluford Jr., mission specialist; Ernst Messerschmid, German payload specialist; Reinhard Furrer, German payload specialist; and Wubbo J. Ockels, Dutch payload specialist. The NASA insignia design for space shuttle flights is reserved for use by the astronauts and for other official use as the NASA Administrator may authorize. Public availability has been approved only in the forms of illustrations by the various news media. When and if there is any change in this policy, which is not anticipated, the change will be publicly announced. Photo credit: NASA

61A-200-003 (30 Oct 1985) --- A large format Linhof camera onboard the Space Shuttle Columbia provided this coastal view of Somalia. The perspective is looking north from Muqdisho (foreground) to Raas Xaafuun at the horizon. Cumulus clouds cover the Somali Desert. The elongated, thinner steak of clouds follows a topographically depressed area, a wash know as Webi Shibeli.

61A-200-046 (30 Oct--6 Nov 1985) --- A low-sun angle view of the eastern Mediterranean Sea showing the east tip of the island of Crete and the Sporades Islands of the Agean Sea. Numberous sprial eddies and island wakes are also highlighted in the sunglint--a delight to oceanographers. pg.26-2

61A-201-057 (30 Oct-6 Nov 1985) --- The North Sea, looking southwest toward Brittany, visible in the upper right portion of the frame. The islands of the mouths of the Rhine River are in the foreground, and above them sunlight reflects off the long causeways and dikes of the Ijsselmeer in the Netherlands. To the right is the Strait of Dover (Pas de Calais) with the southeast corner of England just above the right center edge.

61A-39-052 (30 Oct-6 Nov 1985) --- This Earth view shows Quinhuangdao, China. The Great Wall of China can be seen in this photograph. The center coordinates are 40.0 north latitude and 120.0 east longitude. This photograph was taken from an altitude of 180 miles, on the 24th orbit of the Space Shuttle Challenger. The crew consists of astronauts Henry W. Hartsfield, Jr., commander; Steven R. Nagel, pilot; mission specialists James F. Buchli, Guion S. Bluford, Jr., Bonnie J. Dunbar; payload specialists Reinhard Furrer (DFVLR), Ernst Messerschmid (DFVLR), and Wubbo J. Ockels (ESA).

61A-40-38 (30 Oct-6 Nov 1985) --- The coral reef forming the atoll of Midway sits atop a volcanic seamount that has descended more than 3,000 feet (1000 meters) below the sea surface in this ancient region of the Hawaiian volcanic chain. This view was taken by the crew members onboard the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger. The crew consisted of astronauts Henry W. Hartsfield, Jr., commander; Steven R. Nagel, pilot; James F. Buchli, Guion S. Bluford, Jr., and Bonnie J. Dunbar, all mission specialists; Reinhard Furrer, Ernst Messerschmid, and Wubbo J. Ockels, all payload specialists. Ockels represents the European Space Agency (ESA).

61A-51-045 (31 Oct 1985) --- San Francisco Bay and the San Andreas fault line stand out in this 70mm frame exposed from the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger on October 31, 1985. The California coastline extends from Tomales Bay on the north almost to Santa Cruz (just out of frame) on the south. Parts of the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys are seen along the frame's right edge. Some of the bay's salt evaporators are recognizable by their unique hews, near Fremont and near Vallejo. Center point coordinates are located at 37.5 degrees north latitude and 122.5 degrees west longitude. The Challenger was 180 nautical miles directly above a point centered at 38.8 degrees north latitude and 126.5 degrees west longitude.

61A -45-98 (2 Nov 1985) --- A near vertical view of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula features Ozero Kronotskoye near the Pacific Coast. Center-point coordinates of the pictured area are at 54.5 degrees north latitude and 160.5 degrees east longitude.

61A-43-029 (2 Nov 1985) --- This view, photographed from the Earth orbiting Challenger, features a vertical view of the Okavango Swamp in Botswana. Center coordinates are 19.0 degrees south latitude and 22.5 degrees east longitude. The Challenger was flying at an altitude of 177 nautical miles when the photo was taken with a 70mm handheld Hasselblad camera.

61A-31-089 (30 Oct-6 Nov 1985) --- This photograph looking to the west-northwest along the axis of the Great Himalayan range, shows India, Nepal and China. Mount Everest (8,848 meters) is near the center of the frame. The Ganges Plains are to the left and the Tibet Plateau to the right. The snow line elevations are between 3,000 and 4,000 meters.

61A-200-019 (30 Oct-6 Nov 1985) --- The Nubian Desert of northern Sudan and southern Egypt. This view to the northeast, taken from a point 200 miles west of Khartoum, shows the Nile from Abu-Hamed downstream beyond Lake Nasser and the Aswan High Dam to the bend at Luxor.

61A-50-020 (30 Oct-6 Nov 1985) --- Large photo plankton vortex along the coast of New Zealand's South Island, about 100 kilometers to the north by northeast of Christchurch. Southern hemisphere vortices are clearly clockwise as opposed to counter-clockwise in the northern hemisphere.

61A-200-152 (30 Oct-5 Nov 1985) --- Sun glints on the small and very numerous glacial lakes of the Canadian Shield of Quebec. This is an area of very ancient pre-Cambrian rock, which uplifted when the weight of the Pleistocene glaciers was removed. The double crescent lake is Lake Mistassini, some 400 miles north of Montreal.

61A-08-018 (30 Oct.-6 Nov. 1985) --- Wubbo J. Ockels, a Dutch scientists representing the European Space Agency (ESA), crawls from an unique sleeping restraint in D-1 science module. Unlike the other crewmembers on STS 61A, Ockels did not sleep in the middeck of the Challenger. Ockels proposed this concept of sleeping facility and the actual hardware was developed by the Technisch Natur Wetenschappelyk Onderzoek (TNO), a Dutch government organization.

61A-117-019 (30 Oct.-6 Nov. 1985) --- Traditional in-flight portrait of all eight STS-61A crew members was made with an automatic exposure of a 35mm camera. Left to right, back row, Henry W. Hartsfield Jr., commander; Bonnie J. Dunbar, mission specialist; James F. Buchli, mission specialist; and Reinhard Furrer, payload specialist. Left to right, front row, Ernst Messerschmid, payload specialist; Wubbo J. Ockels, payload specialist representing the European Space Agency (ESA); Steven R. Nagel, pilot; and Guion S. Bluford Jr., mission specialist. Photo credit: NASA

S85-40783 (27 Sept. 1985) --- This international crew expected to fly aboard the space shuttle Challenger when it launches next month represents the largest number (eight) of persons to occupy an orbiting spacecraft at the same time. Posing with the mission insignia are (front row, left to right) Reinhard Furrer, German payload specialist; Bonnie J. Dunbar, mission specialist; James F. Buchli, mission specialist; and Henry W. Hartsfield Jr., commander; and (back row, left to right) Steven R. Nagel, pilot; Guion S. Bluford, mission specialist; Ernst Messerschmid, German payload specialist; and Wubbo J. Ockels, Dutch payload specialist. Photo credit: NASA

S84-47033 (nov 1984) --- Astronaut Reinhard Furrer, payload specialist D-1 German Spacelab mission.

S85-43138 (20 Sept 1985) --- Spacelab D-1, the first payload dedicated to a German mission, is installed into the Space Shuttle Challenger in the orbiter processing facility (OPF) at the Kennedy Space Center. Launch for the 61-A eight crewmembers and their extensive scientific experiments is scheduled for no earlier than Oct. 30.

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.

S85-41246 (26 Sept 1985) --- The STS 61-A/Spacelab D-1 crewmembers are seen in this training scene in the Johnson Space Center's Space Shuttle mockup and integration laboratory. Descending from a simulated Shuttle orbiter in distress, using a Sky-Genie device, is Astronaut Henry W. Hartsfield, Jr. mission commander. Watching in blue flight garments are other members of the crew. They are, left to right, Ernst Messerschmid, German payload specialist (PS1); James F. Buchli, NASA mission specialist (MS2); Bonnie J. Dunbar, NASA mission specialist (MS1); Wubbo J. Ockels, Dutch PS3. Not pictured is Steven R. Nagel, pilot. Photo was taken by Otis Imboden.

61A-S-016 (30 Oct 1985) --- Standing near their pre-flight breakfast table are the eight crewmembers for the STS 61-A/Spacelab D1 mission. L.-R., Guion S. Bluford, Wubbo J. Ockels, Steven R. Nagel, Henry W. Hartsfield, Bonnie J. Dunbar, Ernst Messerschmid, Reinhard Furrer and James F. Buchli, discuss their upcoming week in space.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A wreath honoring Henry W. "Hank" Hartsfield is displayed beside his photo at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Hartsfield commanded space shuttle Discovery's maiden mission and was a veteran of three shuttle flights. He died July 17 after an illness. He was 80 years old. Hartsfield joined NASA in 1969 and was part of the astronaut support crew for Apollo 16 and the Skylab 2, 3 and 4 missions. He logged 483 hours in space during missions STS-4, on which he served as pilot, as well as STS-41D and STS-61A, both of which he commanded. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Henry "Hank" Hartsfield Jr. (right) accepts congratulations from Al Worden, U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame member and chairman of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. The occasion is the 2006 induction ceremony for the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, held in the Apollo/Saturn V Center. The inductees for 2006 are former NASA astronauts Hartsfield, Brewster H. Shaw Jr. and Charles F. Bolden Jr. Hartsfield flew on three space shuttle missions including STS-4, STS-41D and STS-61A, logging 482 hours in space. The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame now includes 63 space explorers. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

61A-S-135 (5 Nov 1985) --- Two school teachers in training at the Johnson Space Center got their first ?real time? exposure to a Space Shuttle mission as they monitor activity aboard the Spacelab D-1 science module from the mission control center. Sharon Christa McAuliffe (frame center) and Barbara R. Morgan are briefed by Terry White at the Public Affairs console during a television downlink from the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger. McAuliffe is scheduled to fly as teacher/citizen observer on the STS 51-L mission early next year; and Morgan is in training as her backup.

61A-S-140 (6 Nov 1985) --- The record-setting eight crewmembers for STS 61-A file from their "home" for the past week at the completion of a successful Spacelab D-1 mission. Astronaut Henry W. Hartsfield Jr., mission commander, shakes hands with George W. S. Abbey, director of flight crew operations at JSC. Other crewmembers, from left to right, are Astronauts Guion S. Bluford Jr., James F. Buchli, Steven R. Nagel and Bonnie J. Dunbar; and Payload Specialists Wubbo J. Ockels, Ernst Messerschmid and Reinhard Furrer. The Challenger came to a complete stop at 9:45:39 a.m. (PST).

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A wreath honoring former NASA astronaut Steven R. Nagel is displayed beside his photo at the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. Nagel died Aug. 21 after a long illness. He was 67 years old. Nagel served as a mission specialist on his first space shuttle flight, STS-51G, in 1985. He was pilot on his second shuttle flight, STS-61A, also in 1985. He commanded his final two flights, STS-37 and STS-55, in 1991 and 1993, respectively. He logged a total of 723 hours in space. To learn more about Nagel's career, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/august/former-nasa-astronaut-steven-nagel-veteran-of-four-shuttle-flights-dies-at-67/. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Former NASA astronaut Jon McBride speaks at a wreath-laying ceremony honoring former NASA astronaut Steven R. Nagel at the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. Nagel died Aug. 21 after a long illness. He was 67 years old. Nagel served as a mission specialist on his first space shuttle flight, STS-51G, in 1985. He was pilot on his second shuttle flight, STS-61A, also in 1985. He commanded his final two flights, STS-37 and STS-55, in 1991 and 1993, respectively. He logged a total of 723 hours in space. To learn more about Nagel's career, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/august/former-nasa-astronaut-steven-nagel-veteran-of-four-shuttle-flights-dies-at-67/. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A wreath honoring former NASA astronaut Steven R. Nagel is displayed beside his photo at the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. Nagel died Aug. 21 after a long illness. He was 67 years old. Nagel served as a mission specialist on his first space shuttle flight, STS-51G, in 1985. He was pilot on his second shuttle flight, STS-61A, also in 1985. He commanded his final two flights, STS-37 and STS-55, in 1991 and 1993, respectively. He logged a total of 723 hours in space. To learn more about Nagel's career, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/august/former-nasa-astronaut-steven-nagel-veteran-of-four-shuttle-flights-dies-at-67/. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Former NASA astronaut Jon McBride, left, and Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana place a wreath honoring Henry W. "Hank" Hartsfield at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Hartsfield commanded space shuttle Discovery's maiden mission and was a veteran of three shuttle flights. He died July 17 after an illness. He was 80 years old. Hartsfield joined NASA in 1969 and was part of the astronaut support crew for Apollo 16 and the Skylab 2, 3 and 4 missions. He logged 483 hours in space during missions STS-4, on which he served as pilot, as well as STS-41D and STS-61A, both of which he commanded. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Former NASA astronaut Jon McBride shares his thoughts at a wreath-laying ceremony honoring Henry W. "Hank" Hartsfield at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Hartsfield commanded space shuttle Discovery's maiden mission and was a veteran of three shuttle flights. He died July 17 after an illness. He was 80 years old. Hartsfield joined NASA in 1969 and was part of the astronaut support crew for Apollo 16 and the Skylab 2, 3 and 4 missions. He logged 483 hours in space during missions STS-4, on which he served as pilot, as well as STS-41D and STS-61A, both of which he commanded. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Therrin Protze, chief operating officer for Delaware North Parks Services at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, speaks at a wreath-laying ceremony honoring Henry W. "Hank" Hartsfield at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Hartsfield commanded space shuttle Discovery's maiden mission and was a veteran of three shuttle flights. He died July 17 after an illness. He was 80 years old. Hartsfield joined NASA in 1969 and was part of the astronaut support crew for Apollo 16 and the Skylab 2, 3 and 4 missions. He logged 483 hours in space during missions STS-4, on which he served as pilot, as well as STS-41D and STS-61A, both of which he commanded. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana speaks at a wreath-laying ceremony honoring Henry W. "Hank" Hartsfield at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Hartsfield commanded space shuttle Discovery's maiden mission and was a veteran of three shuttle flights. He died July 17 after an illness. He was 80 years old. Hartsfield joined NASA in 1969 and was part of the astronaut support crew for Apollo 16 and the Skylab 2, 3 and 4 missions. He logged 483 hours in space during missions STS-4, on which he served as pilot, as well as STS-41D and STS-61A, both of which he commanded. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Former NASA astronaut Jon McBride, left, and Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana pause for reflection after placing a wreath honoring Henry W. "Hank" Hartsfield at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Hartsfield commanded space shuttle Discovery's maiden mission and was a veteran of three shuttle flights. He died July 17 after an illness. He was 80 years old. Hartsfield joined NASA in 1969 and was part of the astronaut support crew for Apollo 16 and the Skylab 2, 3 and 4 missions. He logged 483 hours in space during missions STS-4, on which he served as pilot, as well as STS-41D and STS-61A, both of which he commanded. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana speaks at a wreath-laying ceremony honoring former NASA astronaut Steven R. Nagel at the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. Former NASA astronaut Jon McBride looks on, at right. Nagel died Aug. 21 after a long illness. He was 67 years old. Nagel served as a mission specialist on his first space shuttle flight, STS-51G, in 1985. He was pilot on his second shuttle flight, STS-61A, also in 1985. He commanded his final two flights, STS-37 and STS-55, in 1991 and 1993, respectively. He logged a total of 723 hours in space. To learn more about Nagel's career, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/august/former-nasa-astronaut-steven-nagel-veteran-of-four-shuttle-flights-dies-at-67/. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- From left, Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, Kenneth Cameron, and Jon McBride, all former NASA astronauts, pause for reflection after placing a wreath honoring former NASA astronaut Steven R. Nagel at the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. Nagel died Aug. 21 after a long illness. He was 67 years old. Nagel served as a mission specialist on his first space shuttle flight, STS-51G, in 1985. He was pilot on his second shuttle flight, STS-61A, also in 1985. He commanded his final two flights, STS-37 and STS-55, in 1991 and 1993, respectively. He logged a total of 723 hours in space. To learn more about Nagel's career, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/august/former-nasa-astronaut-steven-nagel-veteran-of-four-shuttle-flights-dies-at-67/. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Former NASA astronaut Kenneth Cameron speaks at a wreath-laying ceremony honoring former NASA astronaut Steven R. Nagel at the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. Former NASA astronaut Jon McBride looks on, at right. Nagel died Aug. 21 after a long illness. He was 67 years old. Nagel served as a mission specialist on his first space shuttle flight, STS-51G, in 1985. He was pilot on his second shuttle flight, STS-61A, also in 1985. He commanded his final two flights, STS-37 and STS-55, in 1991 and 1993, respectively. He logged a total of 723 hours in space. To learn more about Nagel's career, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/august/former-nasa-astronaut-steven-nagel-veteran-of-four-shuttle-flights-dies-at-67/. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis