PIX4648719: Astronaut in training - Astronaut training - Astronaut Clayton C. Anderson of the STS-118 mission uses a virtual reality system to repeat the different movements he will have to accomplish in the International Space Station (ISS). Johnson Space Center, Houston, January 2007. Astronaut Clayton C. Anderson (foreground), Expedition 15 flight engineer, and cosmonaut Fyodor N. Yurchikhin, commander representing Russia's Federal Space Agency, use virtual reality hardware in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at the Johnson Space Center to rehearse some of their duties on the upcoming mission to the International Space Station. This type of virtual reality training allows the astronauts to wear a helmet and special gloves while looking at computer displays simulating actual movements around the various locations on the station hardware with which they will be working. Anderson will join Expedition 15 as flight engineer after launching to the station aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-118. January 2007 / Bridgeman Images
PIX4649044: Discovery Shuttle seen from ISS 06 - 2008 - Discovery is manoeuvring seen from ISS 06 - 2008 - The Discovery Shuttle approaching the International Space Station. In its cargo bay, the new Japanese pressurise module (JPM). June 2, 2008 Backdropped by a cloud - covered part of Earth, Space Shuttle Discovery approaches the International Space Station during STS - 124 rendezvous and docking operations. Docking occurred at 2:03 p.m. (EDT) on June 2, 2008. The second component of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory, the Japanese Pressurized Module (JPM) is visible in Discovery's cargo bay / Bridgeman Images
PIX4648424: The external reservoir, separated from the shuttle Discovery, falls back to Earth. 07 - 2005. - The external fuel tank is jettisoned from the Space Shuttle Discovery and falls towards Earth's atmosphere during the completion of the launch phase of the STS - 114 mission / Bridgeman Images
PIX4648273: P. Perrin in the shuttle Endeavour STS - 111 06/2002 - Astronaut Philippe Perrin is looking at earth. 06/2002 - (5 - 19 June 2002) - - - Astronaut Philippe Perrin, STS - 111 mission specialist representing CNES, the French Space Agency, looks out an aft flight deck window of the Space Shuttle Endeavour / Bridgeman Images
PIX4649578: Discovery Shuttle Inspection - 02/2011 - Discovery Inspection - 02/2011 - The Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS boom), an extension of the American Space Shuttle Canadarm, inspects the thermal shield of Shuttle Discovery for possible damage. February 25, 2011. Controlled by the STS - 133 astronauts inside Discovery's cabin, the Remote Manipulator System/Orbiter Boom Sensor System (RMS/OBSS) equipped with special cameras, begins to conduct thorough inspections of the shuttle's thermal tile system on flight day 2. 25 February 2011 / Bridgeman Images
PIX4646797: The external reservoir, separated from the shuttle Discovery, falls back to Earth. 03 - 1989. - This STS - 29 mission onboard photo depicts the External Tank falling towards the ocean after separation from the Shuttle orbiter Discovery. The giant cylinder, higher than a 15 - story building, with a length of 154 - feet (47 - meters) and a diameter of 27.5 - feet (8.4 - meters), is the largest single piece of the Space Shuttle / Bridgeman Images
PIX4648859: Shuttle Discovery STS - 120 view of ISS 10 - 2007 - Discovery is manoeuvring seen from ISS 10 - 2007 - Shuttle Discovery approaching the International Space Station. In its cargo bay, the new Harmony module (Node 2). 25 - 10 - 2007 25 Oct. 2007 Backdropped by a blue and white Earth, Space Shuttle Discovery approaches the International Space Station during STS - 120 rendezvous and docking operations. Docking occurred at 7:40 a.m. (CDT) on Oct. 25, 2007. The Harmony node is visible in Discovery's cargo bay / Bridgeman Images
PIX4649179: Decolation of the space shuttle Endeavour - 07/2009 - Space Shuttle Endeavour lift - off - Decolation of the space shuttle Endeavour with the crew of the mission STS - 127 on 15 July 2009. The purpose of this mission is to complete the assembly of the Kibo Laboratory of the International Space Station (ISS). Space Shuttle Endeavour and its seven - member STS - 127 crew head towards Earth orbit and rendezvous with the International Space Station. Liftoff was on time at 6:03 p.m. (EDT) on July 15, 2009 from launch pad 39A at Nasa's Kennedy Space Center. Onboard are astronauts Mark Polansky, commander; Doug Hurley, pilot; Christopher Cassidy, Tom Marshburn, Dave Wolf, Tim Kopra and Canadian Space Agency's Julie Payette, all mission specialists. Kopra will join Expedition 20 in progress to serve as a flight engineer aboard the ISS. Endeavour will deliver the Japanese Experiment Model's Exposed Facility and the Experiment Logistics Module - Exposed Section in the final of three flights dedicated to the assembly of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory complex on the space station / Bridgeman Images
PIX4649583: Discovery view of the space station 03/2011 - Discovery in space 03/2011 - The Discovery shuttle seen from the International Space Station (ISS) on March 7, 2011 after its separation from the station. Last mission of Shuttle Discovery. Backdropped against the blackness of space, Discovery is seen from the International Space Station as the two orbital spacecraft accomplish their relative separation on March 7 after an aggregate of 12 astronauts and cosmonauts worked together for over a week / Bridgeman Images
PIX4645890: Satellite COROT - Artist's view of COROT - Artist's view of COROT - Artist's view of the satellite COROT in space. Launched at the end of December 2006, this satellite studies the physical phenomena occurring inside the stars. It is also used for the detection of extrasolar planets by observing the periodic micro-eclipses that these planets cause by passing in front of their mother star. Artist's view of COROT, the exoplanet hunter mission led by CNES, with ESA participation. Launched in December 2006, COROT is placed on a circular, polar orbit around Earth that allow for continuous observations of two large and opposite regions in the sky for more than 150 days each. Within each region there are many selected fields that will be monitored in turn. The reason for the oppositely sited regions is that, because of the Earth's movement around the Sun, the sun's rays start to interfere with the observations after 150 days. COROT then rotates by 180 degrees and start observing the other region / Bridgeman Images
PIX4645627: Spitzer space telescope - Artist's view - Artwork of Spitzer space telescope - Spitzer space telescope observes the universe in infrared; it was launched and put into orbit in August 2003. The Spitzer Space Telescope (formerly SIRTF, the Space Infrared Telescope Facility) was launched into space by a Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida on 25 August 2003 / Bridgeman Images
PIX4649528: Decolving the shuttle Discovery 02/2011 - Launch of Shuttle Discovery STS - 133. 02/2011 - Decolving the shuttle Discovery (mission STS - 133) with a crew of six astronauts on board as well as Robonaut2. This mission is the 33rd and last mission of the Shuttle Discovery. 24/02/2011. Rising on twin columns of fire and creating rolling clouds of smoke and steam, space shuttle Discovery lifts off Launch Pad 39A at Nasa's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a picturesque, warm, late February afternoon. Launch of the STS - 133 mission was at 4:53 p.m. EST on Feb. 24. Discovery and its six - member crew are on a mission to deliver the Permanent Multipurpose Module, packed with supplies and critical spare parts, as well as Robonaut 2, the dexterous humanoid astronaut helper, to the International Space Station. Discovery is making its 39th mission and is scheduled to be retired following STS-133. This is the 133rd Space Shuttle Program mission and the 35th shuttle voyage to the space station / Bridgeman Images
PIX4648720: Astronaut Training - Astronaut Training - Astronaut Richard A. (Rick) Mastracchio, from the STS-118 mission, uses a virtual reality system to repeat the different movements he will have to accomplish in the International Space Station (ISS). Johnson Space Center, Houston, May 2007. Astronaut Richard A. (Rick) Mastracchio, STS - 118 mission specialist, uses virtual reality hardware in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at Johnson Space Center to rehearse some of his duties on the upcoming mission to the International Space Station. This type of virtual reality training allows the astronauts to wear special gloves and other gear while looking at computer displays simulating actual movements around the various locations on the station hardware with which they will be working. May 21, 2007 / Bridgeman Images