NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) looked back and took this picture of the Earth and Moon from Mars, using its High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera. Taken from approximately 142 million miles (88 million km) away, one can barely make out the west coast of South America in the lower right hand portion of the partial Earth image.
The Khyber Pass cuts through the Hindu Kush mountains (at an altitude of 3,500 feet) and connects Afghanistan and Pakistan. This rugged and historic route was photographed in October 2007 by NASA’s Terra spacecraft – looking from the Afghan side, eastwards into Pakistan. The Terra spacecraft took this thermal infrared image using its Japanese built ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) instrument.
This picture of Earth was taken by Alan Shepard on May 5, 1961 as part of NASA’s Mercury Redstone 3 space mission. The historic MR-3 launch allowed Shepard to become the first American (and second person) in space. He likely took this picture of Earth through the on board periscope. The 15 minute mission was put into orbit by an extended and up-powered version of the US Army’s Redstone ballistic missile – forming the Redstone Launch Vehicle.
Apollo 11’s Lunar Module / Lunar Excursion Module, about to end its mission on the Moon. The lander is seen here leaving the Moon’s surface to dock with the Command/Service Module (CSM). In the background is a picturesque “Earthrise” picture taken by astronaut Michael Collins in the Apollo CSM.
A couple of asteroids, inter-planetary travellers, pass by Earth along their journeys through space .