SpaceX CRS-4 launch

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SpaceX CRS-4 launch

Falcon 9 lifts off from LC-40 at Cape Canaveral carrying the Dragon cargo ship to resupply the International Space Station on Sep. 21, 2014.

The Dragon spacecraft’s long-exposure arc ends in the direction of the constellation Perseus near the star Mirphak (α Persei).

The Pleiades, located in the constellation Taurus, appear prominently on the upper left side in the photo. The bright star Aldebaran also appears prominently on the left side.

Here is a zoomed-in view of the photo in Stellarium.

Stellarium Sep. 21

You can watch the CRS-4 launch event again in the video below.

Photo credit: SpaceX

Video source: SpaceX

Pyramids of Giza photographed from the ISS

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Pyramids at Giza

Ancient Egyptian pyramids viewed from high above

The three pyramids at Giza, Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, were photographed by NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman from the International Space Station. The Great Sphinx at Giza is barely visible within the photo (follow the road below the Great Pyramid toward the east). Three smaller pyramids, the queens’ pyramids, appear below the Pyramid of Menkaure, the smallest of the three larger pyramids. Wiseman posted the telephoto to his Twitter feed on Friday.

Credit: NASA, Reid Wiseman (@astro_reid)

An Astronaut’s View from Space

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NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman tweeted this photo from the International Space Station on Tuesday morning, Sept. 2, 2014. “My favorite views from #space – just past #sunrise over the ocean,” the Expedition 40 astronaut tweeted.

The Expedition 40 crew has been busy aboard the Space Station, recently performing health checks and humanoid robot upgrades. In the meantime, a trio of orbital residents is packing up gear as they prepare to return home in less than two weeks. Commander Steve Swanson powered down and stowed Robonaut 2 after wrapping up its mobility upgrades this week. He installed new legs on the humanoid robot including external and internal gear as well as cables. This sets the stage for more upgrades in the fall before Robonaut takes its first steps as an assistant crew member. Robonaut was designed to enhance crew productivity and safety while also aiding people on Earth with physical disabilities.

Image Credit: NASA/Reid Wiseman (@astro_reid)