Concept: Space Launch System (NASA, 09/14/11)

Some cool space images:

Concept: Space Launch System (NASA, 09/14/11)

Image by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Artist concept of SLS launching.

Image credit: NASA

Original image:
www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/multimedia/gallery/s…

More about SLS:
www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/index.html

Space Launch System Flickr photoset:
www.flickr.com/photos/28634332@N05/sets/72157627559536895/

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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…

The Shuttle Rips Space/Time at the End of an Era

Image by Stuck in Customs
I’ll try to describe the sound. Since this is as close as you can get, and this is 3 miles away, it takes a while for the sound to get to you. And it does rush across the water in a rumbling, tumbling way like you might expect. But then, after that, something other than sound starts to come across the water. It’s a series of concussive waves that vibrate your entire skeleton and thrum through your soul. It’s not a steady din of vibration, but a violent staccato rhythm of unseen forces that cause a tremulous cadence around and through your chest. This is the final space shuttle launch of our lives. And so we could not help but be reminded of this finality when this unearthly sound combined with the final sight of the lonely craft arcing away into space.

– Trey Ratcliff

Read more here at the Stuck in Customs blog.

Eastern North Atlantic at Night (NASA, International Space Station, 03/28/12)

Image by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Editor’s note: hello, Flickr friends! I’m just amazed at the colors in this image — hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Posted to the NASA Views Earth at Night photoset: www.flickr.com/photos/28634332@N05/sets/72157625188331491/

One of the Expedition 30 crew members photographed this nighttime scene while the International Space Station was flying at an altitude approximately 240 miles over the eastern North Atlantic. The view looks northeastward. Center point coordinates are 46.8 degrees north latitude and 14.3 degrees west longitude. The night lights of the cities of Ireland, in the foreground, and the United Kingdom, in the back and to the right, are contrasted by the bright sunrise in the background. The greens and purples of the Aurora Borealis are seen along the rest of the horizon.

Image credit: NASA

Original image:
spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-30/html/…

More about space station research:
www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/index.html

There’s a Flickr group about Space Station Research. Please feel welcome to join! www.flickr.com/groups/stationscience/

View more than 475 photos like this in the "NASA Earth Images" Flickr photoset:
www.flickr.com/photos/28634332@N05/