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Pictures of Spacecraft
Curiosity MAHLI self-portrait, sol 84
An amazing color self-portrait photo of Curiosity standing on Mars, on sol 84 (October 31, 2012). The photo is a mosaic of images shot with MAHLI, the camera on the end of the robotic arm. Although MAHLI is mostly intended as a tool for viewing soil and rocks up close at microscopic resolution, it can focus out to infinity so can be used to photograph things at any distance.
Filed under best of, pretty pictures, spacecraft, pics of spacecraft in space, Mars, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
Filed under art, spacecraft, Phoenix
SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Dragon liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral to begin the private spaceflight company's first paid cargo run to the International Space Station.
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Filed under pretty pictures, art, spacecraft, Deep Impact
Solar Monitoring Observatory (SOLAR/SMO)
SOLAR is mounted on the Columbus module of the International Space Station. It measures the irradiance received from the sun, contributing to solar and stellar physics research, as well as improving atmoshperic modeling, atmospheric chemistry and climatology models.
Filed under spacecraft, International Space Station, solar observing spacecraft
Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO)
NASA’s twin STEREO spacecraft provide stereoscopic views of the sun to better understand coronal mass ejections.
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Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)
SDO records the Sun's dynamic solar activity to understand how it affects life on Earth.
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Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)
SOHO studies the sun from core to outer corona, and has inadvertently discovered over 2,000 comets due to the coronagraph it uses to block out the sun’s direct glare.
Filed under pretty pictures, art, spacecraft, solar observing spacecraft
Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI)
RHESSI explores the particle physics behind solar flares. It is a small explorer mission (SMEX) in the original American Explorer line of spacecraft.
Filed under art, spacecraft, solar observing spacecraft
Curiosity's soil scoop, ready for action (sol 51)
Curiosity took this photo on sol 51 (September 27, 2012). The soil scoop is still pristinely clean, before the first attempt at sampling.
Filed under mission status, spacecraft, Mars, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
Artist's concept of ISRO's Mangalyaan Mars orbiter.
Filed under art, spacecraft, Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM)
PICARD takes simultaneous measurements of the Sun's irraadiance, solar flares, magnetic fields and diameter/shape, studying the link between solar cycles and temeperature changes on earth. It is sponsored by CNES, the French space agency.
Filed under spacecraft, solar observing spacecraft
Hinode is the Japanese word for sunrise. It is a joint mission between JAXA, NASA and the ESA to study the sun's magnetic cycles.
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Global Geospace Geoscience (GGS) WIND
GGS WIND measures solar wind and energetic particles emenating from the Sun. It is also creating baseline data for the upcoming Solar Probe+ and Solar Orbiter missions, and supplements data from the STEREO missions.
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Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE)
ACE observes energetic solar, interplanetary, interstellar, and galactic particles. Near real-time data from the spacecraft are used by the Space Prediction Weather Center to provide one-hour warnings of approaching geomagnetic storms.
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Endeavour and NASA 905 prepare for the shuttle's final flight
A fisheye camera mounted atop the ten-story Mate-Demate Device (MDD) captured the three-day process of lifting the 100-ton orbiter Endeavour and placing it atop the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. This is one image from that series.
Filed under spacecraft, Space Shuttle program
Curiosity's turret (key and detail images)
On sol 32, Curiosity used its Mastcams to thoroughly visually check out the robotic arm turret and its many components, including the MAHLI and APXS science instruments, the drill, the Dust Removal Tool (DRT) and CHIMRA. Visit the full detail page (by clicking on the image) to see many more pictures of parts of the turret.
Filed under pretty pictures, explaining technology, spacecraft, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
Curiosity's forward Hazard Avoidance Cameras (Hazcams) as seen from MAHLI, sol 34
On sol 33, Curiosity used its Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) to take the first views of previously unseen parts of the rover, including the two pairs of Hazard Avoidance Cameras (Hazcams). Curiosity uses only one pair at a time. On sol 33, Curiosity was using the first and third of these (images from these two have filenames beginning with "FRA" and "FLA"); the second and fourth form a backup pair attached to the B-side computer ("FRB" and "FLB").
Filed under explaining technology, spacecraft, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
Curiosity's wheels firmly on Mars (MAHLI view, sol 34)
A mosaic of two images captured by Curiosity's Hand Lens Imager on sol 34 (September 10, 2012). The first "belly panorama" shows the wheels already to be coated with red Mars dust.
Filed under pretty pictures, spacecraft, pics of spacecraft in space, Mars, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
Taken on sol 30, this photo is the first time that MAHLI has been seen on Mars. Its lens cover is in place.
Filed under pretty pictures, spacecraft, pics of spacecraft in space, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
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