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Towering Infernos
| Title |
Towering Infernos |
| Description |
This majestic false-color image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows the "mountains" where stars are born. Dubbed "Mountains of Creation" by Spitzer scientists, these towering pillars of cool gas and dust are illuminated at their tips with light from warm, embryonic stars. The new infrared picture is reminiscent of Hubble's iconic visible-light image of the Eagle Nebula (inset), which also features a star-forming region, or nebula, that is being sculpted into pillars by radiation and winds from hot, massive stars. The pillars in the Spitzer image are part of a region called W5, in the Cassiopeia constellation 7,000 light-years away and 50 light-years across. They are more than 10 times in the size of those in the Eagle Nebula (shown to scale here). The Spitzer's view differs from Hubble's because infrared light penetrates dust, whereas visible light is blocked by it. In the Spitzer image, hundreds of forming stars (white/yellow) can seen for the first time inside the central pillar, and dozens inside the tall pillar to the left. Scientists believe these star clusters were triggered into existence by radiation and winds from an "initiator" star more than 10 times the mass of our Sun. This star is not pictured, but the finger-like pillars "point" toward its location above the image frame. The Spitzer picture also reveals stars (blue) a bit older than the ones in the pillar tips in the evacuated areas between the clouds. Scientists believe these stars were born around the same time as the massive initiator star not pictured. A third group of young stars occupies the bright area below the central pillar. It is not known whether these stars formed in a related or separate event. Some of the blue dots are foreground stars that are not members of this nebula. The red color in the Spitzer image represents organic molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These building blocks of life are often found in star-forming clouds of gas and dust. Like small dust grains, they are heated by the light from the young stars, then emit energy in infrared wavelengths. This image was taken by the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) on Spitzer. It is a 4-color composite of infrared light, showing emissions from wavelengths of 3.6 microns (blue), 4.5 microns (green), 5.8 microns (orange), and 8.0 microns (red). |
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Towering Infernos
| Title |
Towering Infernos |
| Description |
This majestic false-color image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows the "mountains" where stars are born. Dubbed "Mountains of Creation" by Spitzer scientists, these towering pillars of cool gas and dust are illuminated at their tips with light from warm, embryonic stars. The new infrared picture is reminiscent of Hubble's iconic visible-light image of the Eagle Nebula (inset), which also features a star-forming region, or nebula, that is being sculpted into pillars by radiation and winds from hot, massive stars. The pillars in the Spitzer image are part of a region called W5, in the Cassiopeia constellation 7,000 light-years away and 50 light-years across. They are more than 10 times in the size of those in the Eagle Nebula (shown to scale here). The Spitzer's view differs from Hubble's because infrared light penetrates dust, whereas visible light is blocked by it. In the Spitzer image, hundreds of forming stars (white/yellow) can seen for the first time inside the central pillar, and dozens inside the tall pillar to the left. Scientists believe these star clusters were triggered into existence by radiation and winds from an "initiator" star more than 10 times the mass of our Sun. This star is not pictured, but the finger-like pillars "point" toward its location above the image frame. The Spitzer picture also reveals stars (blue) a bit older than the ones in the pillar tips in the evacuated areas between the clouds. Scientists believe these stars were born around the same time as the massive initiator star not pictured. A third group of young stars occupies the bright area below the central pillar. It is not known whether these stars formed in a related or separate event. Some of the blue dots are foreground stars that are not members of this nebula. The red color in the Spitzer image represents organic molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These building blocks of life are often found in star-forming clouds of gas and dust. Like small dust grains, they are heated by the light from the young stars, then emit energy in infrared wavelengths. This image was taken by the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) on Spitzer. It is a 4-color composite of infrared light, showing emissions from wavelengths of 3.6 microns (blue), 4.5 microns (green), 5.8 microns (orange), and 8.0 microns (red). |
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Endeavour, OV-105, forward f
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| Title |
Endeavour, OV-105, forward flight deck controls during Rockwell manufacture |
| Description |
Endeavour, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 105, forward flight deck controls are documented during manufacture, assembly, and checkout at North American Rockwell facilities Building 150, Palmdale, California. Overall view looks from aft flight deck forward showing displays and controls with panel F7 CRT screens lit and window shades in place on W2, W3, W4, W5. OV-105 is undergoing final touches prior to rollout and a scheduled flight for STS-49. View was included as part of Rockwell International (RI) Submittal No. 40 (STS 87-0342-40) with alternate number A901207 R-16/NAS9-17800. |
| Date |
01.17.1991 |
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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. ?
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| Description |
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. ? In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, space shuttle Atlantis is raised to a nearly vertical position. Atlantis will next be lifted into high bay 3 and mated with the external tank and solid rocket boosters designated for mission STS-122, already secured atop a mobile launcher platform. On this mission, Atlantis will deliver the Columbus module to the International Space Station. The European Space Agency's largest contribution to the station, Columbus is a multifunctional, pressurized laboratory that will be permanently attached to U.S. Node 2, called Harmony. The module is approximately 23 feet long and 15 feet wide, allowing it to hold 10 large racks of experiments. The laboratory will expand the research facilities aboard the station, providing crew members and scientists from around the world the ability to conduct a variety of experiments in the physical, materials and life sciences. Mission STS-122 is targeted for launch on Dec. 6. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton |
| Release Date |
11/03/2007 |
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Endeavour, OV-105, forward f
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| Title |
Endeavour, OV-105, forward flight deck controls during Rockwell manufacture |
| Description |
Endeavour, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 105, forward flight deck controls are documented during manufacture, assembly, and checkout at North American Rockwell facilities Building 150, Palmdale, California. Overall view looks from aft flight deck forward showing displays and controls with panel F7 CRT screens lit and window shades in place on W2, W3, W4, W5. OV-105 is undergoing final touches prior to rollout and a scheduled flight for STS-49. View was included as part of Rockwell International (RI) Submittal No. 40 (STS 87-0342-40) with alternate number A901207 R-16/NAS9-17800. |
| Date Taken |
1991-01-17 |
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STS-50 Columbia, Orbiter Veh
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| Title |
STS-50 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, on KSC Launch Complex Pad 39A |
| Description |
STS-50 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, on Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Launch Complex (LC) Pad 39A is photographed at close range with OV-102 (nose to tail), external tank (ET), and solid rocket boosters (SRBs) filling the entire frame. Crew compartment forward flight deck windows W1, W2, W3, W4, W5, W6 and aft flight deck overhead windows W7 and W8 are visible. The rotating service structure (RSS) runs along side the vehicle. The mobile launcher platform appears below. View provided by KSC with alternate number KSC-92PC-1224. |
| Date Taken |
1992-07-09 |
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STS-29 Discovery, OV-103, cr
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| Title |
STS-29 Discovery, OV-103, crew on flight deck during reentry |
| Description |
Wearing orange launch and entry suits (LESs) and launch and entry helmets (LEHs), the STS-29 crew prepares to reenter the Earth's atmosphere and guide Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, back to Earth after five full days in space. Strapped into the pilots seat, Pilot John E. Blaha reviews reentry checklist. Next to Blaha, Commander Michael L. Coats' shoulder is visible. On the aft flight deck is Mission Specialist (MS) James F. Buchli. Note the color in forward flight deck windows W4 and W5 caused by friction of entry through the Earth's atmosphere. |
| Date Taken |
1989-03-18 |
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STS-29 Pilot Blaha displays
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| Title |
STS-29 Pilot Blaha displays photograph of crewmembers' wives on flight deck |
| Description |
Sitting in forward flight deck pilots seat and wearing t-shirt and shorts, STS-29 Pilot John E. Blaha displays group portrait of crewmembers' wives. The signed photograph was found by crewmembers upon thier ingressing Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, on launch day. Surrounding Blaha are pilots station controls, forward windows W4, W5, W6, checklists, tethered pencils, and pilots seat back with orange parachute harness. Communications kit assembly freefloats below his left forearm. |
| Date Taken |
1989-03-18 |
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STS-31 MS Sullivan and Comma
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| Title |
STS-31 MS Sullivan and Commander Shriver work on the OV-103's flight deck |
| Description |
This overall view of Discovery's, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103's, flight deck shows STS-31 crewmembers at work. It was taken with a "fish eye" lens. Mission Specialist (MS) Kathryn D. Sullivan, holding a camera, is positioned between the commanders and pilots stations above the center console. Commander Loren J. Shriver leans against the aft flight deck onorbit station as he reviews a checklist. His foot is propped on the seat back of the stowed mission specialist seat. Sunlight through forward windows W5 and W6 and overhead window W7 highlights the shadowy scene. |
| Date Taken |
1990-04-29 |
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STS-35 Pilot Gardner with de
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| Title |
STS-35 Pilot Gardner with descent checklist on OV-102's forward flight deck |
| Description |
STS-35 Pilot Guy S. Gardner, wearing his launch and entry suit (LES), reviews descent checklist while at the pilots station on the forward flight deck of Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102. Crewmembers are conducting procedures related to the final stages of the mission and the landing sequence. Silhouetted in forward windows W4 and W5 are the head up display (HUD), flight mirror assembly, and a drinking water bag with straw. |
| Date Taken |
1990-12-10 |
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STS-47 Pilot Brown on OV-105
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| Title |
STS-47 Pilot Brown on OV-105's flight deck ten minutes after SSME cutoff |
| Description |
STS-47 Pilot Curtis L. Brown, Jr, is photographed at Endeavour's, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 105's, pilot station about ten minutes after space shuttle main engine (SSME) cutoff on launch day. Brown smiles from inside the launch and entry suit (LES) and launch and entry helmet (LEH). In the background are the flight mirror assembly silhouetted against forward window W5, control panels, and a checklist. |
| Date Taken |
1992-09-20 |
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STS-56 MS1 Foale uses SAREX
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| Title |
STS-56 MS1 Foale uses SAREX on forward flight deck of Discovery, OV-103 |
| Description |
STS-56 Mission Specialist 1 (MS1) Michael Foale, wearing headset, uses the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment II (SAREX-II) while sitting at the pilots station on the forward flight deck of Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103. Foale smiles from behind the microphone as he listens to amateur radio operators on Earth via the SAREX equipment. SAREX cables and the interface module freefloat in front of Foale. The SAREX laptop (portable) computer is positioned on the forward window sill. Sunlight is visible through forward windows W4, W5 in the background. SAREX was established by NASA, the American Radio League/Amateur Radio Satellite Corporation and the JSC Amateur Radio Club to encourage public participation in the space program through a program to demonstrate the effectiveness of conducting short-wave radio transmissions between the Shuttle and ground-based radio operators at low-cost ground stations with amateur and digital techniques. As on several previous missions, SAREX was used on |
| Date Taken |
1993-04-17 |
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