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Pictures of Spacecraft
Preliminary version of Curiosity sol 2 360-degree Navcam panorama, polar projection
A mosaic of 20 full-resolution images taken from Curiosity's left Navcam on the second day after landing shows the rover, with a dirty deck, sitting on a gravelly plain, surrounded by mountains. This version is missing two frames and part of a third.
Filed under pretty pictures, spacecraft, pics of spacecraft in space, Mars, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
A dirty rover deck, Curiosity sol 2
A Navcam view of Curiosity's deck on sol 2 shows gravel kicked up during the rocket-assisted landing. The image has been brightened to show more detail of the complex rover's upper surface.
Filed under pretty pictures, spacecraft, Mars, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
Curiosity's heat shield falling toward Mars
A color MARDI image from the descent sequence shows the heat shield falling far below the rover. It was taken Sol 0 (2012-08-06 05:15:39 UTC).
Filed under pretty pictures, spacecraft, amateur image processing, pics of spacecraft in space, Mars, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
MARDI view of Curiosity's heat shield falling away
At the time that this image was taken, the heat shield had fallen about 15 meters away from the rover.
Filed under pretty pictures, spacecraft, Mars, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
Curiosity descending under parachute
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is two for two in the amazing feat of capturing photos of landers descending to the surface of Mars. This version was released several days after the landing; it has been corrected for optical blur.
Filed under pretty pictures, spacecraft, pics of spacecraft in space, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
A rear hazcam view of Curiosity's left rear wheel sitting on Martian soil at the end of landing day, stretched to reveal details in the foreground.
Filed under pretty pictures, spacecraft, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
A close-up view of Curiosity's turret and its five devices.
Filed under spacecraft, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
Curiosity's complex sampling system
Components of Curiosity's Sample Acquisition, Processing and Handling (SA-SPaH) subsystem and where they are located on the rover.
Filed under spacecraft, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
Curiosity's sampling system from above
An overhead view of Curiosity's Sample Acquisition, Processing and Handling (SA-SPaH) subsystem.
Filed under spacecraft, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
Curiosity sample acquisition process
A high-level overview of Curiosity's sample acquisition process and drop-off. The post-drop-off sampling hardware cleaning activity is not shown.
Filed under spacecraft, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
Test image from Curiosity MARDI containing Ken Edgett
This image was acquired in the Malin Space Science Systems cleanroom during MARDI calibration testing in June 2008. It shows the MARDI Deputy Principal Investigator, Ken Edgett, holding a six-foot metal ruler that was used as a depth of field test target.
Filed under pretty pictures, explaining technology, spacecraft, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
Space Launch System expanded view
The initial configuration of the Space Launch System, capable of lofting 70 metric tons into space.
Filed under pretty pictures, art, spacecraft, shuttle successor, future technology, rockets
Orion EFT-1 capsule ready for shipment
The Orion capsule prior to its shipment to Kennedy Space Center, sitting in NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Filed under pretty pictures, spacecraft, human spaceflight, shuttle successor
Filed under pretty pictures, spacecraft, shuttle successor
Phoenix spotted by HiRISE against Heimdall crater as it descends
This amazing image was captured as Phoenix came in for its Mars landing on May 25, 2008. The HiRISE camera on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter pointed at Phoenix, which is seen here against the background of a 10-kilometer-diameter crater called Heimdall.
Filed under best of, spacecraft, pics of spacecraft in space, Phoenix, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
In this scene, Curiosity has touched down onto the surface. The spacecraft has detected the touchdown, and pyrotechnic cutters have severed the connections between the rover and the spacecraft's descent stage.
Filed under art, spacecraft, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
In this artist's concept, Curiosity is in the final moments of its descent toward Mars, and is being lowered from the descent stage to the surface on three cables.
Filed under art, spacecraft, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
Curiosity landing: Powered descent phase
Artist's concept of Curiosity under its descent stage during the final minute before the rover touches down on the surface of Mars.
Filed under art, spacecraft, Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory)
Hayabusa lights up the Australian sky
A view of Hayabusa burning up over Australia courtesy of the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shumbun.
Filed under pretty pictures, pics of spacecraft in space, Hayabusa (MUSES-C)
COROT (Convection Rotation and planetary Transits) is an extrasolar planet-hunting telescope.
Filed under pretty pictures, art, spacecraft, astronomy and astrophysics spacecraft
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