Sept. 14, 1966 – View From Gemini XI, 850 Miles Above the Earth

The western half of Australia, looking west, as seen from the Gemini XI spacecraft, 850 miles above the Earth on Sept. 14, 1966. Reaching this record-shattering altitude was a highlight of a demanding, three-day mission for Gemini XI command pilot Charles “Pete” Conrad and pilot Dick Gordon. via NASA http://ift.tt/2cttuTc

A Streamlined Form in Lethe Vallis, Mars

This image shows a portion of Lethe Vallis, an outflow channel that also transported lava. This is one of only a few places on Mars where these pristine-appearing landforms have been identified. The channel formed by catastrophic floods, during which it produced the prominent crater-cored, teardrop-shaped island in the middle. via NASA http://ift.tt/2c6qZ6U

At Hangar, Raptors Find Shelter from the Storm

As Tropical Storm Hermine charged up the East Coast Sept. 2, the hangar at NASA Langley was able to carefully sandwich in more than a dozen Air Force fighters and offer them protection from the wind. The hangar provides 85,200 square feet (7,915 square meters) of open space and large door dimensions that allow for […]

Writing retreat weekend! (day 1)

About once a quarter, or so, I do a weekend were I write a lot. So far, it has taken the shape of going to mum’s or dad’s, or a family cottage. This time, it is a bit different. I have been wrestling with the revisions, which are going far to slowly ( I have revised […]

OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Mission Launch

The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying NASA’s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft lifts off on from Space Launch Complex 41 on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. via NASA http://ift.tt/2cHNiEK

OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission at the Launch Pad

The ULA Atlas V rocket with NASA’s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft on board is seen illuminated in the distance in this thirty second exposure on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. OSIRIS-REx is scheduled to launch Sept. 8. via NASA http://ift.tt/2cIwNcT

Expedition 48 Crew Returns Home

The Soyuz TMA-20M spacecraft is seen as it lands with Expedition 48 crew members NASA astronaut Jeff Williams, Russian cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin, and Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016(Kazakh time). Williams, Ovchinin, and Skripochka are returning after 172 days in space. via NASA http://ift.tt/2bTdurb

Expedition 48 Crew Lands Safely on Earth

The Soyuz TMA-20M spacecraft is seen as it lands with Expedition 48 crew members NASA astronaut Jeff Williams, Russian cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin, and Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016 (Kazakh time). via NASA http://ift.tt/2cEVHdn

Expedition 48 Crew Preparing to Return Home

Expedition 48 Commander Jeff Williams of NASA returns to Earth Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, after a five-and-a-half-month mission aboard the International Space Station. Williams captured this photograph and wrote, “I will certainly miss this view! Vast gratitude toward my crewmates, ground teams, supporting friends, and family.” via NASA http://ift.tt/2bV7T75