2009 November 30
Bright Sun and Crescent Earth from the Space Station
Credit: STS-129 Crew,
NASA Explanation: This was just one more breathtaking view from the International Space Station. The Sun, a crescent Earth, and the long arm of a solar panel were
all visible outside a window when the
Space Shuttle Atlantis visited the orbiting outpost last week. Reflections from the window and
hexagonal
lens flares from the camera are superposed. The space
shuttle landed Friday after a successful 10 day
mission to expand and resupply the
ISS. Numbered
STS-129, the space shuttle mission returned astronaut
Nicole Stott to Earth from her stay on the ISS as a
Flight Engineer in the
Expedition 20 and
21 crews.