Space Shuttle Pics

Here are some space shuttle pics. You can turn any of these images into your computer desktop wallpaper. Just click on an image to enlarge it. Then right-click and choose “Set as Desktop Background”.

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Here’s a photo of the aft of the space shuttle Atlantis, including its 3 main engines. The space shuttle do a flip as part of every mission, so astronauts on board the International Space Station can examine the shuttle to see if it was damaged during launch.

Awaiting the Mission
Awaiting the Mission

This is a picture of the space shuttle Atlantis waiting on the launch pad, in preparation for mission STS-129 to visit the International Space Station.

Endeavour Brings Tranquility
Endeavour Brings Tranquility

Here’s a photo of the space shuttle Endeavour rising up to dock with the International Space Station. This image was taken as part of mission STS-130, when Endeavour delivered the Tranquility module.

Shuttle Engine Out Test
Shuttle Engine Out Test

This is a model of the space shuttle being tested in a wind tunnel. It was used by engineers to figure out what would happen if the space shuttle lost an engine during the launch.

Lighting Up the Night
Lighting Up the Night

Here’s a time lapse photo of the space shuttle Discovery blasting off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral. You can see how the bright rocket glare lights up the surroundings.

We have written many articles about the space shuttle for Universe Today. Here’s an article about how you could get a space shuttle of your own, and here’s an article about the space shuttle Columbia.

If you’d like more information on the shuttle, 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.