View allAll Photos Tagged Spacestation
“One of the goals of the United States Space Program is the establishment of permanent manned space stations, and current plans are to have an initial operating capability (IOC) as Space Station Freedom in low Earth orbit by 1995…Space Station Freedom will operate nadir pointing and rotate about its transverse axis at the rate of one revolution per orbit. Space Station Freedom will provide a microgravity environment and be a stable platform for observation of the Earth. It will support a broad range of space-related operations or scientific investigations.
Studies of space stations are under way for the more distant future. These will utilize advanced technology and perform functions in support of future space missions. One series of studies is concerned with examining various aspects of a space station for the time period around the year 2025. Three reports have been published in this series of studies. The first study led to the conceptual configuration depicted in the photo, which is basically a rotating space station with an inertially oriented central section, referred to as the Advanced-Technology Space Station (ATSS).
The rotating ATSS provides an artificial gravity field, which reduces medical and physiological problems associated with weightless long-duration space flight. This approach introduces unique challenges in attitude stabilization and accommodation of large rotating elements. Furthermore, the ATSS is designed to host a large crew and perform numerous experiments, which means it is very large and has a heavy electrical power demand. In addition, the ATSS is designed to support missions beyond low Earth orbit which bring new operational challenges.
A major feature of the ATSS is the large rotating torus which provides artificial gravity (centrifugal force) for the crew in their primary habitat and work area, and also provides for gas (O₂ and H₂ storage). An artificial gravity of one Earth g, 9.8m/sec² (32.2 ft/sec²), can be obtained at 2.8 revolutions per minute. Two solar dynamic units on the torus provide electrical power for use in the torus.
The other components of the ATSS are attached to a central tube which does not rotate with the torus. These units include Earth, solar, and celestial observatories; a platform with horticultural domes and four solar dynamic units; plus a section for berthing, loading, and unloading spacecraft. The entire ATSS is Sun-pointing; therefore, it must precess at the rate of revolution per year.”
The above is my paraphrasing of the content pertinent to the photo and available at:
ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19910002472/downloads/1991000...
Additional content, with some very interesting diagrams, at:
ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19880010196
Although I’m sure for illustrative purposes, the spacewalking Astronauts seen near the corner of the berthing and assembly bay are grossly oversized. The width of the trusses they’re near is 5m (16.4 ft). Note also the Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV) thrusting in the foreground.
Referred to as the "Spinning Array":
www.pmview.com/spaceodysseytwo/station/sld030.htm
Credit: PMView Pro website
Last but not least. Broken down well:
www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/spacestations.php
Credit: “ATOMIC ROCKETS” website
“A proposed four-man space station using Atlas ICBM’s.
First step would be the placement of missile no. 1 in orbit 400 miles above the earth. This would serve as the shell of the station. Missile no. 2, on the right, would be supply vehicle, and no. 3, lower left, personnel carrier. Other Atlas missiles would propel these into space.”
Above per/thanks to Sven Knudson’s fantastic Ninfinger Productions website, via "Guided Missiles" (1959), by Frank Ross Jr. At:
www.ninfinger.org/models/vault/Krafft%20Ehricke%20Atlas%2...
Also referred to as "Phase II: Arrival of First Cargo and Passenger Vehicle" in the apparent sequence of scenes depicting assembly of the Atlas Manned Space Station, and linked to below.
Note the belly-to-belly configuration of two reentry gliders/’outpost lifeboats’ atop the approaching no. 3 personnel carrier.
Wonderful…thanks to Krafft Ehricke & John Sentovic.
Finally, Despite the abysmal, nearly non-existent ‘response’ to this posting, I’m still compelled – for the record & historical purposes – to provide the cited 1958-04-28 Avation Week article, again thanks to the wonderful Internet Archive website, at:
archive.org/details/Aviation_Week_1958-04-28/page/n13/mod...
“Convair Plans Four-Man Space Station
Four-man space station that could be put into a 400-mi. orbit in five years at a cost of about $500 million has bee proposed to USAF by Convair’s Astronautics Division.
Based on the Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile, the Atlas Orbital System provides the means for putting the greatest load into orbit at the earliest time, according to designer Krafft Ehricke, assistan to the division’s technical director.
Atlas also has been proposed to USAF as the launching vehicle for a series of Minimus Manned Satellites—aimed at quick solution of the manned re-entry problem—in a joint Avco Manufacturing Corp.-Convair effort.
Re-entry capsule would be an almost spherical, pure-drag body employing a parachute and imposing a peak deceleration load of 9G on the human space traveler.
Both proposals were reported here last week in a speech by Ehricke at the National Press Club and testimony before the House Select Committee on Astronautics and Space Exploration by Ehricke and Dr. Arthur Kantrowitz, director of Avco’s research laboratory and author of the manned satellite proposal.
Atlas has successfully completed its first series of firing tests and can be “principally available for space projects within a year without hampering the Atlas ICBM program,” Ehricke said.
Primary structure of the Atlas space station is the modified stainless steel propellant tank of the Atlas itself, and a basic advantage is that the structure can put itself into orbit in one launching.
Seven Atlases
Complete system calls for the use of seven Atlases:
- Primary structure.
- Cargo vehicle containing parts and heavier equipment for the aft end of the station, including odor absorber, air purifier, etc.
- Passenger ship carrying the first four-man crew. Crew would transfer equipment from the cargo vehicle and install emergency power, water and oxygen systems.
- Cargo vehicle carrying a four-compartment, rubber nylon crew capsule which would be installed in the front end of the Atlas shell and inflated by pressurized bottle; vehicle also carries food and water and insulation and other installations.
- Second passenger vehicle, carrying a relief crew, which would install the capsule, store food and water, check out water and air systems with emergency power.
- Cargo ship carrying nuclear auxiliary powerplant, shielding and radiation cooler surface.
- Ship carrying second relief crew, which would check-out nuclear equipment, start water and air cycles and fire. Atlas vernier engines to provide rotation. Station’s rotation every two and one-half min. around an axis through its propellant end will provide .1 to .15G.
All but the first Atlas might have smaller second stages. With this, an Atlas can put about 8,000 lb. of cargo or a crew of four into orbit.
Station Weight
Final weight of the station would be 15,000 lb. and final length probably would be about 106 ft., including the nuclear power supply.
Ehricke said efforts toward improved combustion and slight improvement of specific impulse of Atlas propellants could alter the final length of the missile slightly.
Four basic requirements must be fulfilled before a station can be established, Ehricke said: re-entry capability, countdown precision, reliability of operation and performance of the basic vehicle. He said he believes these last three will be achieved by Atlas by the time other problems such as re-entry have been solved and the nation is ready to establish a space station.
Putting man into space now is purely an engineering development program, with no major scientific hurdles left, Ehricke said. Re-entry from the Atlas station would be achieved in two-man gliders.
Avo-Convair re-entry proposal grew out of earlier studies proposed to Air Research and Development Command in November of 1956 but paid for by Avco because ARDC lacked funds. The original Manned Ballistic Rocket System Study indicated that a manned satellite system based on ICBM launchers was feasible. Minimum Manned Satellite proposal followed last November.
Kantrowitz said Avco recognized more than a year ago that the time of the earliest possible launching of a manned satellite would be governed not by the satellite but by availability of a safe, operationally reliable launching vehicle.
“Because of the overriding importance of the reliability factor in any American manned space flight factor, we turned quite naturally to the ICBM which had been tested most, the Convair Atlas,” Kantrowitz told the House Committee.
Primary objectives of the manned satellite proposal would be:
- Establishing in minimum time a manned orbital flight capability with controlled re-entry to a selected landing location.
- Determining the problems of maintaining a man in space with approximately the same capabilities he has on earth.
- Establishing capability of putting a man into an “orbit of decision” from which he can land safely or move out into a permanent orbit, using practical space propulsion devices. “Achievement of this objective would be the major breakthrough in establishing manned space flight as a reality,” Kantrowitz said.
- Demonstrating advantages of a drag vehicle for accomplishing a safe, controlled manned re-entry from a satellite orbit.
Avco first thought a gradual approach to orbital flight would be most effective, increasing velocities and altitudes of a manned vehicle by steps. Studies indicated, however, that re-entry is most easily accomplished from orbital flight, Kantrowitz said.
Winged and unwinged vehicles with variable lift and drag were considered and rejected in favor of a pure drag re-entry vehicle, he said.
Rapid deceleration would bring a total of 4Gs at peak heating. After peak heating, while the vehicle and parachute were cooling, deceleration would increase to 9Gs. The man would be supported in a nearly-prone position.
After peak deceleration, satellite would slow to a very low speed and the falling phase would take about one-half hour, Kantrowitz said. Impact would be comparable to that of objects dropped by cargo parachutes.
Ehricke’s space station could be established in about one week from initial launch, he said. Crews would be rotated regularly, first at two-week intervals, then at four. Cargo ship would deliver fresh supplies and equipment about once a year.”
Crews prepare Skylab’s orbital workshop -- This photograph was taken during installation of floor grids on the upper and lower floors inside the Skylab orbital workshop at the McDonnell Douglas plant at Huntington Beach, Calif. under the direction of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.
Image credit: NASA
View original image/caption:
mix.msfc.nasa.gov/abstracts.php?p=1270
View more Skylab images
www.flickr.com/photos/nasamarshall/sets/72157632646424119/
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These official NASA photographs are being made available for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photographs. The photographs may not be used in materials, advertisements, products, or promotions that in any way suggest approval or endorsement by NASA. All Images used must be credited. For information on usage rights please visit: www.nasa.gov/audience/formedia/features/MP_Photo_Guidelin...
Hungry Black Hole
A supermassive black hole has been tearing apart and eating a star for so long it set a new record.
According to researchers, this tidal disruption event was 10 times longer than any other star’s death, which either means the black hole was destroying an incredibly large star or it thoroughly torn apart a smaller star.
The team of researchers began observing the TDE that destroyed the too close star in July 2005, using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and Swift satellite and ESA’s WMM-Newton.
This black hole, known as XJ1500+0154, is at the center of a host galaxy about 1.8 billion light-years from Earth. It reached peak brightness in June 2008, and has been on researchers’ radars ever since.
“For most of the time we’ve been looking at this object, it has been growing rapidly,” James Guillochon of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Mass. and co-author of the study said. “This tells us something unusual — like a star twice as heavy as our Sun — is being fed into the black hole.”
Finding this drawn out death of a star by black hole shows not only that supermassive black holes can grow, but it also gives researchers more information about advanced black holes and how they came to be.
According to the researchers, the star that the black hole is feeding on will diminish in the next several years, and will therefore cause the brightness of XJ1500+0154 to fade as well.
Black Hole Meal Sets Record for Length and Size
chandra.si.edu/press/17_releases/press_020617.html
Image and Credit : X-ray: NASA/CXC/UNH/D.Lin et al, Optical: CFHT, Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss
“Minerva – the first interplanetary ship – as she leaves the space station on her trip to the minor planet Eros.
“Eros is one of the hundreds of minor planets, also called planetoids or asteroids, in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Eros was discovered in 1898 and, when its orbit was calculated, it was discovered that it did not stay in the space between Mars and Jupiter. It crossed the orbit of Mars and came much closer to earth than Mars, which at its minimum distance is still 35 million miles away.” [From the text]
The final destination is Mars and two winged rocket ships may be seen attached to the side of the Minerva. Those ships will actually attempt a landing on Mars. Minerva will remain behind on the Martian moon Phobos.
Screenshot of the beauty of Elite Dangerous.
Tools used: In-Game camera suite, Lightroom color correction custom preset.
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This is my first ever composite photo of a transit of the International Space Station. This photo is composed of 6 exposures, as can be seen by the 5 brakes in the ISS transit trail. I framed the shot so that it would capture the entire visible transit, from the horizon to the point where the ISS faded. The brightest star-trail in the top left is Jupiter, with Castor and Pollux above it forming a triangle. Composed with Startrails 2.3 and edited in Photoshop and Lightroom.
Image rendered @33 megapixels (custom DSR)
Injectable camera tools by Otis_Inf (game version rolled back to 1.0.4)
Real Lights plus Ultra Graphics Mod by jmx777
Reshade 3.4.1
Serious cropping... and then resampled on GIMP
Technicians unpack and inspect a Nitrogen/Oxygen Recharge System (NORS) tank inside the Space Station Processing Facility high bay at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on July 16, 2020. The NORS tanks and their support fixtures are designed to connect to the International Space Station's existing air supply network to refill the previous generation of tanks installed during construction of the space station. These reusable tanks measure 3 feet long and 21 inches in diameter, and weigh about 200 pounds when filled. Once onboard, the tanks will be used to fill the oxygen and nitrogen tanks that supply the needed gases to the space station's airlock for spacewalks. They could also be used to replenish the atmosphere inside the station. The NORS tanks will launch to the station later in the year on a commercial resupply mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
4K Ultra High Definiton video link youtu.be/RfkBiNjnByY
flickr image composite link flic.kr/p/R6nWjU
Passing in front of the first waxing gibbous Moon for 2017, the ISS silently crosses over Grantham late in the evening on a clear night.
International Space Station
9 January 2017 – 22h37m41.85s
Crosses the disk of the waxing gibbous Moon (86%)
Grantham, Lockyer Valley, Queensland, Australia
Transit-Duration: 0.84s, (in shadow of Earth)
Path width: 13.3km. Diameter of ISS: 44.66"
size=109.0m x 73.0m x 27.5m.
Satellite at Azimuth=328.8° NNW Altitude=36.2°
Distance=663.0 km.
Angular Velocity=37.0'/s
Ground Speed=7.504 km/s
*Dark Nebula Glows Red in Amateur Astronomer's Photo*
Thick blankets of dust surround the predominantly dark region in Barnard 343, a dark nebula in the constellation Cygnus.
Barnard 343 belongs to the Gamma Cygni Complex – a group of clouds in Cygnus approximately 2,000 light-years away. A light-year is the distance light travels in one year, or about 6 trillion miles (10 trillion kilometers).
The brilliant red regions are caused by a large amount of hydrogen emissions present in the visible part of the spectrum. Johnson used a Takahashi TOA-130F @ f/7.7 telescope with a Takahashi EM200 Temma II Mount with a QSI 540wsg @ -15C camera.
About Image : Astrophotographer Jeffrey O. Johnson took this image from his backyard in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Credit : Jeffrey O. Johnson
“This is an artist concept of the enhanced configuration of the permanently manned Space Station, produced by Martin Marietta. The enhanced configuration includes an upper and lower keel for attaching external payloads, a 50 kilowatt solar dynamic system mounted on the ends of the transverse boom, a servicing bay and a co-orbiting platform (not pictured).”
One of several “dual-keel” proposals during this time period. Note the module(?) which sorta looks like a large telescope, recently delivered by the docked orbiter and being positioned by the station’s manipulators. In fact, the possible “receiving” RMS is attached to some sort of cradle (akin to those in the cargo bays of orbiters). For final placement/further translation along the truss? There appear to be cameras and some sort of optical/sighting (tele?) scope on one end. No idea what the appendages on the other end are. Even an MMU-clad Astronaut conducting an EVA, possibly inspecting the far-left solar array.
Interesting pseudo-negative/silhouette-like depiction…creative…by Les Pettus.
Dual-Keel-palooza:
www.astronautix.com/d/dualkeelspaestation-1985.html
Credit: Astronautix website
Screenshot of the beauty of Prey (2017).
Tools used: Otis_Inf 's Camera/Hud Tool, Lightroom color correction custom preset.
Long Exposure Space Station from our back garden, A 25 Sec Exposure And A 45 Sec Combined in Affinity Photo2
52 Weeks of 2025 Week #46
Taken 17th November 2025
Best viewed large press "L"
You can see my other 52 Weeks of 2025 Here!
www.flickr.com/photos/123248944@N05/albums/72177720323140799
“SWS, in orbit.”
Gotta be the shortest ‘official’ NASA caption I’ve ever seen - three words - actually, two & an acronym. An obscure one at that, “SWS”, Saturn Workshop. HOWEVER, it’s punctuated…many others, with way more words, are NOT. You’re killin’ me smalls.
“This overhead view of the Skylab Space Station was taken from the Departing Skylab Command/Service Module during the Skylab 2's final fly-around inspection. The single solar panel is quite evident as well as the parasol solar shield, rigged to replace the missing micrometeoroid shield. Both the second solar panel and the micrometeoroid shield were torn away during a mishap in the original Skylab 1 liftoff and orbital insertion.”
Above taken from the caption for photo ID no. SL2-7-651. Although a totally different perspective, it’s applicable.
I think the photograph is incorrectly oriented, but it corresponds to the caption/information on the verso & is representative of one of the commonly seen orientations. Comparing the relative positions of clouds between this and the widely published SL2-7-633, along with the direction of flight, I think the ATM should be to the right/rightish.
Watched the International Space Station (bright) and SpaceX Dragon (faint). My daughter saw the Dragon first. Distance between them is approximately 10 seconds of space flight, or 70km. Very cool watching two spacecraft flying so close. 9:26p MDT
Wake up to the Great Outdoors when you're out camping in the heart of the wilderness. There's a tent with a couple of sleeping bags with multiple sleep animations and poses for two. You even get to squat down on a couple of nearby logs. There's a lovely animated waterfall and sound effects - and it's all embedded in some breathtaking scenery. Time to hit the trail.
This is one of the scenes generated by the Exosphere Holo-Deck. Perfect for Role Play.
© Taron Curtis, All Rights Reserved
This image is not available for use on websites, blogs or other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.
S129-E-007575 (22 Nov. 2009) --- The bright sun greets the International Space Station in this Nov. 22 scene from the Russian section of the orbital outpost, photographed by one of the STS-129 crew members.
Tonights pass of the ISS, so super so be out and about to wave at the Crew ;0)
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This week in 1973, Charles Conrad Jr., Paul Weitz and Joseph Kerwin launched to America’s first space station. Upon arriving at Skylab, the crew installed the parasol sunshade -- seen here being stitched together by two seamstresses -- and released the solar array wing. Without the sunshade, the temperature inside Skylab’s orbital workshop became dangerously high, rendering the workshop uninhabitable and threatening the interior insulation and adhesive with deterioration. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center engineers and scientists worked to develop an emergency repair procedure that launched just 11 days after the incident.
The NASA History Program documents and preserves NASA’s remarkable history through a variety of products -- photos, press kits, press releases, mission transcripts and administrators' speeches. For more pictures like this one and to connect to NASA’s history, visit the History Program’s web page.
For more fun throwbacks, check out Marshall's History Album by clicking here.
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These official NASA photographs are being made available for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photographs. The photographs may not be used in materials, advertisements, products, or promotions that in any way suggest approval or endorsement by NASA. All Images used must be credited. For information on usage rights please visit: www.nasa.gov/audience/formedia/features/MP_Photo_Guidelin...
International Space Station photographed through Orion XT8 telescope 10-06-08. Distance: approx. 230 miles.
Screenshot of the beauty of Prey (2017).
Tools used: Otis_Inf 's Camera/Hud Tool, Lightroom color correction custom preset.
On Jan. 6, 2017
NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Peggy Whitson spent more than six hours spacewalking outside the International Space Station to upgrade the outpost's power system. See photos from the spacewalk here. In this image: Kimbrough and Whitson pose for a photio with crewmate Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency during a spacesuit fit check ahead of the spacewalk.
Screenshot of the beauty of Prey (2017).
Tools used: Otis_Inf 's Camera/Hud Tool, Lightroom color correction custom preset.
You can also find me on:
Screenshot of the beauty of Prey (2017).
Tools used: Otis_Inf 's Camera/Hud Tool, Lightroom color correction custom preset.
Dramatic North American Rockwell artist's concept from 1969, depicting docked & approaching/departing "DC-3" shuttles at an orbiting space station. The shuttle design was developed, patented and promoted by renowned NASA Engineer, Dr. Maxime Faget. Note the air-breathing engines visible atop the wings of the foreground shuttle.
Although there's no visible signature, I'm pretty sure it's by Henry Lozano Jr., North American Aviation/North American Rockwell artist/illustrator extraordinaire.
In fact, Mr. Lozano was 1970 President of the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles (SILA):
Credit: SILA website
See also:
Credit: John Sisson/Dreams of Space - Books and Ephemera blogspot
Additional information and low resolution version of the image:
forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/127839-maxi...
Credit: KERBAL SPACE PROGRAM website/LOTS of cool stuff at this website btw.
Also:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_DC-3
Credit Wikipedia
The vehicle appears to be a variant:
Credit: Space Exploration Stack Exchange website
The following exemplifies a golden nugget, i.e., "WIN", that keeps me going down rabbit hole after rabbit hole after rabbit hole:
kssunews.wordpress.com/2014/04/09/previously-unseen-space...
Credit: Sacramento State/Associated Students, Inc. blogsite
Lastly, I had no idea there were this many designs/proposals & variations, wow:
io9.gizmodo.com/early-design-specs-show-the-space-shuttle...
Credit: Gizmodo website
Finally:
www.gettyimages.no/detail/news-photo/giant-winged-shuttle...