Mission Pictures

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Here are some cool mission pictures. You can make any of these images into your computer desktop wallpaper. Just click on an image to enlarge it, and then choose “Set as Desktop Background”.

STS-29 Onboard photo - External Tank Separation

This photo of the external tank after separation with the space shuttle Discovery was captured from the International Space Station during the STS-29 mission in 1989. The external tank or ET is an important component of a space shuttle flight since it supplies the fuel and oxidizer under pressure to the three space shuttle main engines.

Shadow on the Moon

This image of the lunar surface was taken by the Surveyor 1 space craft. The space craft’s shadow on the moon’s surface is also visible in the image. Surveyor 1 is the first space craft to land on the moon.

Backpacking

This image features mission specialist Bruce McCandless II in a Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU). MMU allows the astronauts to move freely in space without worrying about the danger of getting far from the spacecraft.

Backdropped by a Colorful Earth

This picture shows two astronauts, Robert L. Curbeam, Jr. (left) and Christer Fuglesang while conducting an extravehicular activity outside the International Space Station as part of the STS-116 mission. On the background is the Cook Strait in New Zealand and the Pacific Ocean.

Endeavour Closes In

This is an image of the space shuttle Endeavour taken from the International Space Station on July 17, 2009 before docking with the International Space Station.

We have written many articles about the missions for Universe Today. Here’s an article about the STS-119 mission, and here’s an article about the STS-127 mission.

If you’d like more information on the shuttle missions, here’s a link to NASA’s Official space shuttle page, and here’s the homepage for NASA’s Human Spaceflight.

We’ve recorded an episode of Astronomy Cast all about the space shuttle. Listen here, Episode 127: The US Space Shuttle.

Tagged as: mission, space mission, space shuttle missions