NASA successfully completed its first rendezvous mission with two Gemini spacecraft-Gemini VII and Gemini VI-in December 1965. This photograph, taken by Gemini VII crewmembers Frank Lovell and Frank Borman, shows Gemini VI in orbit 160 miles (257 km) above Earth. The main purpose of Gemini VI, crewed by astronauts Walter Schirra and Thomas Stafford, was the rendezvous with Gemini VII. The main purpose of Gemini VII, on the other hand, was studying the long-term effects of long-duration (up to 14 days) space flight on a two-man crew. The pair also carried out 20 experiments, including medical tests. Although the principal objectives of both missions differed, they were both carried out so that NASA could master the technical challenges of getting into and working in space.
Date
12/15/1965
NASA Center
Johnson Space Center
View of the Gemini 6 and Gem
…
Title
View of the Gemini 6 and Gemini 7 rendezvous
Description
This photograph of the Gemini 7 spacecraft was taken from the hatch window of the Gemini 6 spacecraft during rendezvous and station keeping maneuvers at an altitude of approximately 160 miles on December 15, 1965.
Date Taken
1965-12-15
View of the Gemini 6 and Gem
…
Title
View of the Gemini 6 and Gemini 7 rendezvous
Description
This view of the orbiting Gemini 7 spacecraft was taken from the Gemini 6 spacecraft during their historic rendezvous mission in space. The two spacecrafts were approximately 29 ft. apart when this picture was made.
Date Taken
1965-12-15
Soyuz Spacecraft in Orbit
Title
Soyuz Spacecraft in Orbit
Full Description
This scene was photographed with a handheld 70mm camera from a rendezvous window of the American Apollo spacecraft in Earth orbit during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) mission. It shows the Soviet Soyuz spacecraft contrasted against a black-sky background with the Earth's horizon below. The three major components of the Soyuz are the spherical-shaped Orbital Module, the bell-shaped Descent Vehicle and the cylindrical-shaped Instrument Assembly Module. The docking system on the Orbital Module was specially designed to interface with the docking system on the Apollo's Docking Module. ASTP was a cooperative space mission between the United States and the USSR. The goals of ASTP were to test the ability of American and Soviet spacecraft to rendezvous and dock in space and to open the doors to possible international rescue missions and future collaboration on manned spaceflights. The Soyuz and Apollo crafts launched from Baikonur and the Kennedy Space Center respectively, on July 15, 1975. The two spacecraft successfully completed the rendezvous and docking on July 17th. While the Soyuz craft returned to Earth on July 21st, the Apollo craft stayed in space another 3 days, landing on July 24th in the Pacific Ocean. ASTP was a success, as not only did crews accomplish the rendezvous and docking, but they also performed in-flight intervehicular crew transfers and various scientific experiments. ASTP proved to be significant step toward improving international cooperation in space during the Cold War.
Date
07/1975
NASA Center
Johnson Space Center
Apollo-Soyuz Launch
Name of Image
Apollo-Soyuz Launch
Date of Image
1975-07-15
Full Description
This photo depicts the liftoff of the Saturn IB launch vehicle (SA-210), for the Apollo/Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) mission, from the Launch Complex 39B, Kennedy Space Center. The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) was the first international docking of the U.S.'s Apollo spacecraft and the U.S.S.R.'s Soyuz spacecraft in space. The objective of the ASTP mission was to provide the basis for a standardized international system for docking of manned spacecraft. The Soyuz spacecraft, with Cosmonauts Alexei Leonov and Valeri Kubasov aboard, was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome near Tyuratam in the Kazakh, Soviet Socialist Republic, at 8:20 a.m. (EDT) on July 15, 1975. The Apollo spacecraft, with Astronauts Thomas Stafford, Vance Brand, and Donald Slayton aboard, was launched from Launch Complex 39B, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, at 3:50 p.m. (EDT) on July 15, 1975. The Primary objectives of the ASTP were achieved. They performed spacecraft rendezvous, docking and undocking, conducted intervehicular crew transfer, and demonstrated the interaction of U.S. and U.S.S.R. control centers and spacecraft crews. The mission marked the last use of a Saturn launch vehicle. The Marshall Space Flight Center was responsible for development and sustaining engineering of the Saturn IB launch vehicle during the mission.
Apollo 4 Launch
Title
Apollo 4 Launch
Full Description
On November 9, 1967, Apollo 4, the first test flight of the Apollo/Saturn V space vehicle, was launched from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39. This was an unmanned test flight intended to prove that the complex Saturn V rocket could perform its requirements. All three stages separated successfully and their engines performed as planned. The third stage also restarted in orbit, which was a requirement for lunar missions. At the end of the flight, the unmanned Apollo spacecraft reentered and proved that it could survive the intense heat generated during a high-speed return from the moon.
Date
11/9/1967
NASA Center
Marshall Space Flight Center
Launch of the Apollo 7 space
…
Title
Launch of the Apollo 7 spacecraft
Description
The Apollo 7/Saturn IB space vehicle is launched from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 34 at 11:03 a.m. October 11, 1968 (48787), Apollo 7 lifts off. Note the tracking antenna on left and pad service structure on right (48788).
Date Taken
1968-10-11
Saturn V Vehicle for Apollo
…
Name of Image
Saturn V Vehicle for Apollo 4 at the Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center
Date of Image
1967-11-08
Full Description
This is an image of the first test flight of a giant Saturn V rocket for the Apollo 4 mission at the Kennedy Space Center's launch complex 39A, photographed at the dawn of November 8 during the pre-launch alert. Designated as Apollo 4, this mission was the first launch of the Saturn V launch vehicle. Objectives of the unmanned Apollo 4 test flight were to obtain flight information on launch vehicle and spacecraft structural integrity and compatibility, flight loads, stage separation, and subsystems operation including testing of restart of the S-IVB stage, and to evaluate the Apollo command module heat shield.
Liftoff of the Apollo 11 lun
…
Title
Liftoff of the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission
Description
The 363 ft tall Apollo 11 space vehicle is launched from Pad A, Launch Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center, at 9:37 a.m., July 16, 1969. Apollo 11 is the United Sates first lunar landing mission.
Date Taken
1969-07-16
Launch of Apollo 8 lunar orb
…
Title
Launch of Apollo 8 lunar orbit mission
Description
The Apollo 8 (Spacecraft 103/Saturn 503) space vehicle launched from Pad A, Launch Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center, at 7:51 a.m., December 21, 1968. In this view there is water in the foreground and seagulls.
Date Taken
1968-12-21
Launching of the Apollo 13 l
…
Title
Launching of the Apollo 13 lunar landing mission
Description
The Apollo 13 (spacecraft 109/Lunar Module 7/Saturn 508) space vehicles lifts off from Pad A, Launch Complex 39 at Kennedy Space Center at 2:13 p.m., April 11, 1970 (34852,34853), Apollo 13 space vehicle is shown almost past the launch tower, fire coming from its engines as it lifts off (34854), The Apollo 13 space craft is shown passing the launch tower as it lifts off to begin its lunar landing mission (34855).
Date Taken
1970-04-11
OUTWARD BOUND VOYAGER--A Tit
…
Description
OUTWARD BOUND VOYAGER--A Titan-Centaur launch vehicle hurls Voyager 1 from Cape Canaveral toward its rendezvous with Jupiter and Saturn. The launch took place at 5:56 a.m. (PDT) September 5, 1977. Voyager 1 followed Voyager 2 away from Earth, but by the time they reach Jupiter it will be four months ahead of Voyager 2. Voyager 1 will reach Saturn nine months ahead of Voyager 2. The Voyager project is managed by Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASA's Office of Space Science.
Apollo 17 Night Launch
Title
Apollo 17 Night Launch
Full Description
Liftoff of the Apollo 17 Saturn V Moon Rocket from Pad A, Launch Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, at 12:33 a.m., December 17, 1972. Apollo 17, the final lunar landing mission, was the first night launch of a Saturn V rocket.
Date
12/07/1972
NASA Center
Johnson Space Center
Apollo 7 Launch
Title
Apollo 7 Launch
Full Description
The Apollo 7 Saturn IB space vehicle is launched from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 34 at 11:03 a.m. October 11, 1968. A tracking antenna is on the left and a pad service structure on the right.
Date
10/11/1968
NASA Center
Johnson Space Center
Apollo 11 Launch
Title
Apollo 11 Launch
Full Description
At 9:32 a.m. EDT, the swing arms move away and a plume of flame signals the liftoff of the Apollo 11 Saturn V space vehicle and astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr. from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A.
Date
7/16/1969
NASA Center
Kennedy Space Center
Apollo 11 Launch
Title
Apollo 11 Launch
Full Description
The American flag heralds the flight of Apollo 11, the first Lunar landing mission. The Apollo 11 Saturn V space vehicle lifted off with astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., at 9:32 a.m. EDT July 16, 1969, from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A. During the planned eight-day mission, Armstrong and Aldrin will descend in a lunar module to the Moon's surface while Collins orbits overhead in the Command Module. The two astronauts are to spend 22 hours on the Moon, including two and one-half hours outside the lunar module. They will gather samples of lunar material and will deploy scientific experiments which will transmit data about the lunar environment. They will rejoin Collins in the Command Module for the return trip to Earth.
Date
7/16/1969
NASA Center
Kennedy Space Center
Apollo 11 Launch
Title
Apollo 11 Launch
Full Description
The Apollo 11 Saturn V space vehicle climbs toward orbit after liftoff from Pad 39A at 9:32 a.m. EDT. In 2 1/2 minutes of powered flight, the S-IC booster lifts the vehicle to an altitude of about 39 miles some 55 miles downrange. This photo was taken with a 70mm telescopic camera mounted in an Air Force EC-135N plane. Onboard are astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr.
Date
7/16/1969
NASA Center
Kennedy Space Center
Soviet Soyuz spacecraft cont
…
Title
Soviet Soyuz spacecraft contrasted against a black-sky background
Description
This scene photographed from a rendezvous window of the American Apollo spacecraft in earth orbit shows the Soviet Soyuz spacecraft contrasted against a black-sky background with the earth's horizon in the lower left corner.
Date Taken
1975-07-17
American Apollo spacecraft a
…
Title
American Apollo spacecraft as seen from Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in orbit
Description
The American Apollo spacecraft as seen in earth orbit from the Soviet Soyuz spacecraft during the joint U.S.-USSR Apollo Soyuz Test Project mission. The Command/Service Module and Docking Module are contrasted against a black-sky background. This picture was furnished by the USSR in an exchange of photography taken during the ASTP flight. The bell-shaped engine nozzle of the service propulsion system protrudes from the rear of the Service Module. Note the docking mechanism on the Docking Module.
Date Taken
1975-07-17
American Apollo spacecraft a
…
Title
American Apollo spacecraft as seen from Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in orbit
Description
The American Apollo spacecraft as seen in earth orbit from the Soviet Soyuz spacecraft during the joint U.S.-USSR Apollo Soyuz Test Project mission. The Command/Service Module and Docking Module are contrasted against a black-sky background. Light reflected in the camera streaks the image. Note the docking mechanism and docking target on the Docking Module. On the left the bell-shaped engine nozzle of the service propulsion system protrudes from the rear of the Service Module.
Date Taken
1975-07-17
Atlantis Docked to Mir
Title
Atlantis Docked to Mir
Full Description
This view of the Space Shuttle Atlantis still connected to Russia's Mir Space Station was photographed by the Mir-19 crew on July 4, 1995. Cosmonauts Anatoliy Y. Solovyev and Nikolai M. Budarin, Mir-19 Commander and Flight Engineer, respectively, temporarily undocked the Soyuz spacecraft from the cluster of Mir elements to perform a brief fly-around. They took pictures while the STS-71 crew, with Mir-18's three crew members aboard, undocked Atlantis for the completion of this leg of the joint activities. Solovyev and Budarin had been taxied to the Mir Space Station by the STS-71 ascent trip of Atlantis.
Date
07/04/1995
NASA Center
Johnson Space Center
STS-30 Launch
Name of Image
STS-30 Launch
Date of Image
1989-05-05
Full Description
The STS-30 mission launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis on May 4, 1989 at 2:46:59pm (EDT) carrying a crew of five. Aboard were Ronald J. Grabe, pilot, David M. Walker, commander, and mission specialists Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave, and Mark C. Lee. The primary payload for the mission was the Magellan/Venus Radar mapper spacecraft and attached Inertial Upper Stage (IUS).
General Description
STS-117 Shuttle Mission Imagery
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -
…
10/24/98
Date
10/24/98
Description
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Lighting up the launch pad, a Boeing Delta II (7326) rocket propels Deep Space 1 through the morning clouds after liftoff from Launch Complex 17A, Cape Canaveral Air Station. The first flight in NASA's New Millennium Program, the spacecraft is designed to validate 12 new technologies for scientific space missions of the next century, including the ion propulsion engine. Propelled by the gas xenon, the engine is being flight-tested for future deep space and Earth-orbiting missions. Other onboard experiments include software that tracks celestial bodies so the spacecraft can make its own navigation decisions without the intervention of ground controllers. Deep Space 1 will complete most of its mission objectives within the first two months, but will also do a flyby of a near-Earth asteroid, 1992 KD, in July 1999.
First to Saturn
title
First to Saturn
description
An artist's view of a Pioneer spacecraft heading into interstellar space. Both Pioneer 10 and 11 are on trajectories that will eventually take them out of our solar system. Pioneer 11 sent its last signal in November 1995. NASA maintained contact with Pioneer 10 until January 2003. *Image Credit*: NASA
Pioneer 10: The First 7 Bill
…
Title
Pioneer 10: The First 7 Billion Miles
Explanation
"Q:" What was made by humans and is 7.3 billion miles away? "A:" Pioneer 10 -- and 1997 was the 25th anniversary [ http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/pioneer10/ ] of its launch. Almost 11 light-hours distant, Pioneer 10 is presently [ http://spaceprojects.arc.nasa.gov/Space_Projects/pioneer/ PNStat.html ] about twice as far from the Sun as Pluto, and bound for interstellar space [ http://spaceprojects.arc.nasa.gov/Space_Projects/pioneer/ path.html ] at 28,000 miles per hour. The distinction of being the first human artifact to venture beyond the known planets [ http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/cosmic/solar_system.html ] of the Solar System is just one in a long list of firsts for this spacefaring ambassador [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960630.html ], including, the first spacecraft to travel through the asteroid belt and explore the outer Solar System [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap961214.html ], the first spacecraft to visit Jupiter [ http://ccf.arc.nasa.gov/galileo_probe/index.html ], and the first to use a planet's gravity to change [ http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/basics/bsf4-1.htm#gravity ] its course and to reach solar-system-escape velocity. Pioneer 10's mission [ http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/pioneer10/mission/ index.html ] is nearing an end. Now exploring the distant reaches of the heliosphere [ http://earth.agu.org/revgeophys/neugeb01/neugeb01.html ] it will soon run out of sufficient electrical power to operate science instruments. However, the 570 lb. spacecraft [ ftp://ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/pressrel/1997/97-031.txt ] will continue to coast and in 300,000 years or so it will pass within about 3 light years of nearby star [ http://cassfos02.ucsd.edu/public/nearest.html ] Ross 248. Ross 248 is a faint red dwarf just over 10 light years distant in the constellation Taurus. (Note: In 1998 Voyager 1 [ http://vraptor.jpl.nasa.gov/voyager/voyager.html ], launched 5 years later but traveling faster than Pioneer 10, became humanity's most distant spacecraft.)
AC72-1354
Pioneer 10 Artwork Spacecraf
…
12/1/72
Description
Pioneer 10 Artwork Spacecraft shown during encounter above Jupiter's surface (used in NASA SP-349)
Date
12/1/72
AC72-1353
Date: Dec. 1972 Pioneer 10 A
…
12/2/72
Description
Date: Dec. 1972 Pioneer 10 Artwork Spacecraft shown only 11 hours after launch passing the orbit of the Moon in this artist concept on it's way to orbit above Jupiter's surface (used in NASA SP-349)
Date
12/2/72
Solar Maximum Mission Satell
…
Name of Image
Solar Maximum Mission Satellite
Date of Image
1984-04-01
Full Description
This is a photograph of the free-flying Solar Maximum Mission Satellite (SMMS), or Solar Max, as seen by the approaching Space Shuttle Orbiter Challenger STS-41C mission. Launched April 6, 1984, one of the goals of the STS-41C mission was to repair the damaged Solar Max. The original plan was to make an excursion out to the SMMS for capture to make necessary repairs, however, this attempted feat was unsuccessful. It was necessary to capture the satellite via the orbiter's Remote Manipulator System (RMS) and secure it into the cargo bay in order to perform the repairs, which included replacing the altitude control system and the coronograph/polarimeter electronics box. The SMMS was originally launched into space via the Delta Rocket in February 1980, with the purpose to provide a means of studying solar flares during the most active part of the current sunspot cycle. Dr. Einar Tandberg-Hanssen of Marshall Space Flight Center's Space Sciences Lab was principal investigator for the Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter, one of the seven experiments on the Solar Max.
50th Anniversary of Sputnik:
…
Title
50th Anniversary of Sputnik: Traveling Companion
Explanation
Sputnik means [ http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/sputnik/ index.html ]"traveling companion". Despite the innocuous sounding name, the launch [ http://www.nytimes.com/partners/aol/special/sputnik/ launch.1.jpg.html ] of planet Earth's first artificial moon, Sputnik 1 [ http://www.nytimes.com/partners/aol/special/sputnik/ ], by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957, changed the world and set in motion events which resulted in the creation of NASA [ http://history.nasa.gov/ ] and the race [ http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/gal114/SpaceRace/sec300/ sec310.htm ] to the Moon. Sputnik 1 [ http://whyfiles.org/047sputnik/main1.html ] was a 184 pound, 22 inch diameter sphere with four whip antennas connected to battery powered transmitters. The transmitters broadcast a continuous "beeping" signal to an astounded [ http://www.airspacemag.com/issues/2007/august/ sputchev.php?page=1 ] earthbound audience for 23 days. A short month later, on November 3, the Soviet Union followed this success by launching a dog [ http://asca.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/space_level2/ laika.html ] into orbit aboard Sputnik 2 [ http://www.svengrahn.pp.se/histind/Sputnik2/ Sputnik2.htm ].
Capturing the Solar Maximum
…
Name of Image
Capturing the Solar Maximum Mission Satellite
Date of Image
1984-04-01
Full Description
Launched April 6, 1984, one of the goals of the STS-41C mission was to repair the damaged free-flying Solar Maximum Mission Satellite (SMMS), or Solar Max. The original plan was to make an excursion out to the SMMS and capture it for necessary repairs. Pictured is Mission Specialist George Nelson approaching the damaged satellite in a capture attempt. This attempted feat was unsuccessful. It was necessary to capture the satellite via the orbiter's Remote Manipulator System (RMS) and secure it into the cargo bay in order to perform the repairs, which included replacing the altitude control system and the coronograph/polarimeter electronics box. The SMMS was originally launched into space via the Delta Rocket in February 1980, with the purpose to provide a means of studying solar flares during the most active part of the current sunspot cycle. Dr. Einar Tandberg-Hanssen of Marshall Space Flight Center's Space Sciences Lab was principal investigator for the Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter, one of the seven experiments of the Solar Max.
41-C mission specialist repa
…
Title
41-C mission specialist repairs captured Solar Maximum Mission Satellite
Description
Wide angle view of mission specialist James D. van Hoften participating in an extravehicular activity (EVA) to repair the "captured" Solar Maximum Mission Satellite (SMMS) in the aft end of the Challenger's cargo bay. Astronaut van Hoften is standing in the payload bay facing the camera. The Solar SMMS is behind him. To the right of the photo is the remote manipulator system (RMS) arm used to capture the satellite. Behind the orbiter is a view of the cloudy earth.
Date Taken
1984-04-11
View of the damaged Solar Ma
…
Title
View of the damaged Solar Maximum Mission Satellite from the 41-C Challenger
Description
View of the damaged Solar Maximum Mission Satellite from the 41-C space shuttle orbiter Challenger. The satellite's solar panels are fully extended. Astronaut George D. Nelson, using the manned maneuvering unit (MMU), approaches the satellite to attempt to "lock-on" to it.
Date Taken
1984-04-08
Viking 1
Viking 1 launched aboard a T
…
8/1/08
Description
Viking 1 launched aboard a Tital IIIE rocket August 20, 1975 and arrived at Mars on June 19, 1976. The first month was spent in orbit around the martian planet and on July 20, 1976 Viking Lander 1 separated from the Orbiter and touched down at Chryse Planitia.
Date
8/1/08
Viking Orbiter-Lander
title
Viking Orbiter-Lander
Galileo's End
title
Galileo's End
description
An artist's impression of the Galileo orbiter beginning to burn up in Jupiter's atmosphere. Galileo's 14-year mission to explore the Jovian system ended on Sept. 21, 2003 when the spacecraft was deliberately sent into Jupiter's atmosphere. *Image Credit*: NASA
Galileo at Io artwork
NASA's Galileo spacecraft ha
…
5/3/96
Date
5/3/96
Description
NASA's Galileo spacecraft has found Jupiter's volcanic moon Io to have a huge iron core that takes up half its diameter. The spacecraft's 899 kilometer (559-mile) flyby of Io on December 7, 1995 is depicted in this computer graphics painting. Galileo also detected a large "hole" in Jupiter's magnetic field near Io, leading to speculation about whether Io possesses its own magnetic field. If so, it would be the first planetary moon known to have one. The mission is conducted for NASA by JPL.
Galileo at Jupiter
This artist's rendering show
…
7/11/95
Date
7/11/95
Description
This artist's rendering shows the Galileo orbiter arriving at Jupiter on Dec. 7, 1995. A few hours before arrival, the orbiter will have flown within about 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) of Jupiter's moon lo, shown as the crescent to the left of the spacecraft. The sun is visible between Io and the spacecraft, near the spacecraft's long magnetometer. Jupiter is to the right. A faint white streak above the planet's clouds shows the atmospheric probe beginning to decelerate before it deploys a parachute for its scientific mission to collect data as it descends into the atmosphere and relay that data to the orbiter. About an hour after the probe's mission is over, the orbiter will brake with its rocket engine to go into orbit around Jupiter for a two-year, 11-orbit study of Jupiter, its satellites and its magnetosphere. The Galileo mission is managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. The Galileo probe is managed by NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field. Calif.
Artist concept of Galileo sp
…
Title
Artist concept of Galileo spacecraft
Description
Galileo spacecraft is illustrated in artist concept. Gallileo, named for the Italian astronomer, physicist and mathematician who is credited with construction of the first complete, practical telescope in 1620, will make detailed studies of Jupiter. A cooperative program with the Federal Republic of Germany the Galileo mission will amplify information acquired by two Voyager spacecraft in their brief flybys. Galileo is a two-element system that includes a Jupiter-orbiting observatory and an entry probe. Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is Galileo project manager and builder of the main spacecraft. Ames Research Center (ARC) has responsibility for the entry probe, which was built by Hughes Aircraft Company and General Electric. Galileo will be deployed from the payload bay (PLB) of Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104, during mission STS-34.
Date Taken
1988-09-21
Leaving Earth Orbit
title
Leaving Earth Orbit
description
The Galileo spacecraft atop its two-stage Inertial Upper Stage has just been released from the space shuttle in this artist's rendering. Galileo was launched to Jupiter in October 1989 from the Space Shuttle Atlantis. *Image Credit*: NASA
Viking 1 Launch
Title
Viking 1 Launch
Full Description
Viking 1 was launched by a Titan/Centaur rocket from Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 5:22 p.m. EDT to begin a half-billion mile, 11-month journey through space to explore Mars. The 4-ton spacecraft went into orbit around the red planet in mid-1976.
Date
8/20/1975
NASA Center
Kennedy Space Center
TIROS
Title
TIROS
General Description
International Space Station Imagery
Hubble Floating Free
Title
Hubble Floating Free
Description
The Hubble Space Telescope floats against the background of Earth after a week of repair and upgrade by Space Shuttle Columbia astronauts in 2002. Hubble?s fourth servicing mission gave the telescope its first new instrument installed since the 1997 repair mission ? the Advanced Camera for Surveys. It doubled Hubble?s field of view and records information much faster than Hubble?s Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2.
Hubble Space Telescope Begin
…
Title
Hubble Space Telescope Begins "Two-Gyro" Science Operations
See What NASA's Hubble Sees,
…
Title
See What NASA's Hubble Sees, with the Click of a Mouse
A Parting Look
The STS-125 crew took a fina
…
5/20/09
Description
The STS-125 crew took a final look at the Hubble Space Telescope on May 19, 2009, prior to the telescopes's release following a full week's work. Atlantis'...
Date
5/20/09
Mariner 2, the world's first
…
Description
Mariner 2, the world's first successful interplanetary spacecraft, was launched August 27, 1962 and passed 34,916 kilometers (21,648 miles) from Venus on December 14, 1962. Mariner 2 measured the temperatures of the clouds and surface of Venus as well as fields and particles near the planet and in interplaentary space. Contact was lost January 3, 1963 when the spacecraft was 86.9 million kilometers (53.9 million miles) from Earth. Mariner 2 was designed, built and controlled in flight by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASA.
Phoenix
title
Phoenix
description
An artist's impression of the Phoenix lander on the surface of Mars. Phoenix is set to launch in 2007. *Image Credit*: NASA
The 2001 Mars Odyssey Orbite
…
Description
The 2001 Mars Odyssey Orbiter is scheduled for launch on April 7, 2001. It will arrive at Mars in October. After a propulsive maneuver into a 25-hour capture orbit, aerobraking will be used over the next 76 days to achieve the 2-hour science orbit. Aerobraking was utilized on the Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Polar Orbiter missions. The Orbiter will carry 3 science instruments, the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS), the Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS), and the Mars Radiation Environment Experiment (MARIE). THEMIS will map the mineralogy and morphology of the Martian surface using a high- resolution camera and a thermal infrared imaging spectrometer. The GRS will achieve global mapping of the elemental composition of the surface and determine the abundance of hydrogen in the shallow subsurface. The GRS is a rebuild of the instrument lost with the Mars Observer mission. The MARIE will characterize aspects of the near-space radiation environment as related to the radiation-related risk to human explorers.
