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Pictures of 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.
Filed under spacecraft, solar observing spacecraft
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.
Filed under spacecraft, solar observing spacecraft
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.
Filed under spacecraft, solar observing spacecraft
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)
Filed under pretty pictures, art, spacecraft, InSight
Artist's concept of Dawn firing an ion engine to leave Vesta behind and travel on to Ceres
Filed under pretty pictures, art, spacecraft, Dawn
Artist's concept of one of the two ARTEMIS spacecraft studying the Moon.
Filed under art, spacecraft, Artemis
Curiosity as seen from HiRISE, 12 days after landing
HiRISE's best opportunity to observe Curiosity right after landing came on sol 12, August 17, 2012.
Filed under pretty pictures, spacecraft, pics of spacecraft in space, Mars, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
Filed under art, spacecraft, Venus missions before 2000
Mariner 2 gets the Rose Parade treatment
On New Years Day 1963, a model of JPL's Mariner 2 spacecraft above a floral "Venus" moved down Colorado Boulevard in the annual Tournament of Roses Parade. JPL Director William Pickering, Grand Marshal of the parade, rode just ahead of the float, which was built and funded by JPL volunteers.
Filed under pretty pictures, spacecraft, Venus missions before 2000
Mariner 2 being prepared for launch
The Mariner 2 spacecraft is shown in an assembly facility at the Atlantic Missile Range (AMR), Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft was designed and built by JPL, then shipped to AMR, where the antenna and solar panels were assembled prior to testing and launch in August 1962.
Filed under pretty pictures, spacecraft, Venus missions before 2000
Curiosity's first wheel wiggle
On the 15th day after its landing on Mars, Curiosity exercised its wheels for the first time. First it rotated all wheels out (pointing radially away from the rover's center), then in (the direction they must point for a turn in place), and finally straightened the wheels, making the rover ready to drive the following sol.
Filed under mission status, animation, spacecraft, amateur image processing, Mars, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
Curiosity's first destination: Glenelg
A cropped view of a HiRISE image taken 6 days after Curiosity landed includes a "triple junction" of three different rock types. The team named that spot "Glenelg" and planned to make that Curiosity's first driving destination. The rover is visible at far left, surrounded by a dark splash where its landing jets disturbed the dust.
Filed under pretty pictures, spacecraft, amateur image processing, Mars, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
Curiosity sampling the Martian surface
Artist's concept of Curiosity using its turret-mounted tools to examine a rock on Mars.
Filed under pretty pictures, art, spacecraft, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
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