PIX4637382: The Milky Way Over Devil's Tower - The Milky Way Over Devil's Tower - The Lactee Way from Devils Tower National Monument. Located in Wyoming, this natural monolith rises 386 metres above the surrounding land. It is the first national monument in the United States, and is also famous for being the landing site of aliens in the film Encounters of the third type. Image obtained in June 2009. The Milky Way shines above the Devils Tower in Wyoming. The mountain was the feature landmark for the alien landing in the famous 1977 movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind””. It is also the very first American national monument. Devils Tower is a monolithic volcanic neck located in the Black Hills in northeastern Wyoming. It rises dramatically 386 m above the surrounding terrain. Image taken in June 2009 / Bridgeman Images
PIX4636585: Centre of the Milky Way Central Region - Center of the Milky Way: Central part of the lactee route seen in New Zealand. Planet Saturn is the bright white dot towards the center of the image (near the nebula of the pipe). The central part of our Milky Way photographed from New Zealand. Lots of emission and obscure nebulae are visible in the image. Planet Saturn in the bright white “” star”” close to the center of the image. A diffusing filter was used to enhance star color and general shape of the constellations. / Bridgeman Images
PIX4642724: View of debris in low orbit around the Earth - Debris objects in low - Earth orbit - 80 per cent of recenses are in low orbit, up to 2000 km above the Earth. Debris objects in low - Earth orbit (LEO) Eighty percent of all catalogued objects are in low - Earth orbit (LEO), which extends to 2000 km above the Earth's surface. To observe the Earth, spacecraft must orbit at such a low altitude. The spatial density of objects increases at high latitudes / Bridgeman Images
PIX4642966: EDRS Relay Satellite Network - Artist's view - The European Data Relay Satellite System - EDRS - The European Data Relay Satellites (EDRS) programme is a geostationary orbit satellite network project enabling faster and better data transmission between satellites and ground stations using new communication technologies. EDRS will replace ESA's Artemis data relay satellite, which has been in operation since 2003 and will reach the end of life in the first half of the next decade. December 2008. Artist impression of European Data Relay Satellite (EDRS) system. EDRS is a network of satellites that will use geostationary satellites to communicate with both ground stations and other satellites - whose lower orbits restrict the time that they can 'see' any one ground station. Allowing low - Earth orbit satellites to deliver data continuously, instead of storing it on board for transmission while overflying a ground station, will increase the timeliness with which we receive data improving global communications, navigation and Earth observation / Bridgeman Images
PIX4643018: Satellites Galileo - Galileo constellation. Artwork - Artist's view of the European satellite network Galileo consists of 30 satellites at about 24,000 km of altitude (27 operationals, 3 reserve). The satellite positioning system is expected to be operational in 2011. Artwork of the european navigation satellites constellation / Bridgeman Images
PIX4643189: Passage of a communication satellite Iridium. - Iridium communication satellite flare. - Passage of a communication satellite Iridium. 29 August 2006 An Iridium communication satellite “” flares””, as it passes overhead through a star field. The flares are caused by a mirror on the satellite reflecting direct sunshine. August 29 200 / Bridgeman Images
PIX4643466: Voyager 2 Probe - Voyager 2 spacecraft - The Voyager 2 probe tested on March 23, 1977. The Voyager 1 and 2 probes were launched on September 5, 1977 and August 20, 1977 respectively to study the global planets of the solar system. This photo shows engineers working on Nasa's Voyager 2 spacecraft on March 23, 1977 / Bridgeman Images
PIX4644401: Satellite Topex - Poseidon - Illustration - Artist's view of the satellite Topex - Poseidon in orbit around the Earth. This satellite launched on 10 August 1992 was dedicated to the study of the oceans. His mission ended in January 2006. Artist's concept of the satellite Topex - Poseidon. This satellite dedicated to studying the ocean was launched on August 10 1992. Its mission ended in january 2006 / Bridgeman Images
PIX4641250: Peggy Whitson in the International Space Station (ISS) - Peggy Whitson in ISS: The weightless astronaut Peggy Whitson in the International Space Station (ISS) answers reporters during an interview. June 28, 2017. During this mission, Peggy Whitson discovered the record-breaking time in space for an American astronaut (665 days), beating Jeffrey Williams (534 days) and Scott Kelly (520 days). She also becomes the woman who spent the most time accumulates in space, and the detentrice of the longest female mission (289 days). With 10 extra-vehicle outings Peggy Whitson breaks the women's records set by Sunita Williams in the number of outings and time spent in space (60 hours). On that date, she was the eldest woman who had stayed in space and the only woman in command of the International Space Station. Astronaut Peggy Whitson was pictured June 28 2017 conducting a live video interview with reporters on Earth / Bridgeman Images
PIX4640772: Spacewalk: Extravehicular exit of J.Tanner. 12/09/2006. Astronaut Joseph R. Tanner, STS-115 mission specialist, looks toward the digital still camera of his space walk colleague, astronaut Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper as the two share extravehicular activity (EVA) duties during the first of three scheduled spacewalks. Stefanyshyn-Piper's full body is reflected as a tiny figure in Tanner's helmet visor. The STS-115 astronauts and the Expedition 13 crew members are joining efforts this week to resume construction of the International Space Station. September 12, 2006. / Bridgeman Images