22 03, 2022

Earth From Space V – A Distant World

Jeremy Theoret2022-12-17T20:52:55+00:00Categories: Earth|Tags: Earth, Galileo, Moon, Voyager I|0 Comments

A Distant World

Voyager I view of Earth and Moon. Credit NASA/JPL

At top is a photograph from the Cassini spacecraft at Saturn, approximately 900 million miles from Earth, showing Earth just below the rings on July 19, 2013. Above, the first full-disk picture of both the Earth and the Moon as seen by Voyager I on September 18, 1977. Voyager 1 snapped this picture approximately 7.25 million miles from Earth. This was the first image to show both the full Earth and Moon in the same frame.

Robotic spacecraft have ventured deep into space, far more distant than human beings have yet travelled, allowing a perspective that we could previously only imagine. The Voyager I spacecraft was the first to image the Earth and Moon together on its way out to Jupiter and Saturn, the first probe to visit those planets, and […]

17 03, 2022

Earth From Space IV – Discovering Earth

Jeremy Theoret2022-12-17T20:51:43+00:00Categories: Earth, Moon|Tags: Apollo 8, Earth, Earthrise, Moon|0 Comments

Discovering Earth

Earthrise from Apollo 8, AS08-14-2383. Image Credit: NASA/JSC/ASU/Apollospace

“We came all this way to explore the Moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered the Earth” – Bill Anders, Apollo 8, “Earthrise” photographer

Above, the first photograph of an Earthrise in black and white, and moments later, the first color photograph of Earthrise as seen with human eyes.

On December 21, 1968 humanity left the comforting confines of home on a journey to Earth’s nearest neighbor. On their way, the Apollo 8 astronauts came to see all that has ever been as a thumbnail in endless space. The first photograph of the whole Earth as seen by human beings appears below. Most of South America is visible at bottom center. North America (upper left) is mostly obscured by clouds, with Florida and Mexico visible. Upper right is western […]

15 03, 2022

Earth From Space III – The Whole Earth

Jeremy Theoret2022-12-17T21:04:39+00:00Categories: Earth|Tags: Earth, Moon|0 Comments

The Whole Earth

ATS-1 First view of Earth and Moon from Space ATS-1 414588 (NASA)

Following the toe-dip into space provided by the early V-2 rocket photography of Earth, twenty years later, on December 7, 1966 (63 years to the day after the first flight of Kitty Hawk), the Applications Technology Satellite 1 (ATS-1) was launched – the first experimental geostationary satellite and the Earth started to take shape. The first (near) full-disk pictures of the Earth from a geostationary orbit were taken on December 11, 1966. The image above showing the Earth and Moon together in space for the first time, and below, the nearly full Earth with North America appearing upper right with the Southwest US, Mexico, and Baja California clearly visible…

ATS-1 Nearly […]

15 03, 2022

Earth From Space II – In Living Color

Jeremy Theoret2023-01-12T07:20:38+00:00Categories: Earth|Tags: Earth, Otto Berg, Whites Sands|0 Comments

In Living Color

Following the first black and white photographs of Earth from space taken from the V-2 rockets, on October 5, 1954, the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) launched an Aerobee sounding rocket from the White Sands Proving Grounds in New Mexico. On board were two 16mm movie cameras peering out small holes, one with black and white film and the other with color film.

On October 5, 1954, an Aerobee rocket carrying two 16 mm movie cameras (including one with color film) captured the first color images of Earth from space, including images of a tropical storm over the state of Texas. 117 images from an altitude of 100 miles were used to create this photomosaic of the Earth from space in natural color for the first time. Credit: U. S. Navy / […]

12 03, 2022

Earth From Space I – First Photographs From Space

Jeremy Theoret2022-12-17T20:47:57+00:00Categories: Earth|Tags: Earth, swords into plowshares, V-2, Whites Sands|0 Comments

First Photograph of Earth from Space, 1946

First photo of the Earth from Space. Image Credit: Department of Defense, Department of the Army 1946

When I think about space, I think of Earth. The pinnacle of the space program has been seeing the Earth from space and gaining a perspective of our place in the universe impossible otherwise. By reaching for the heavens, we came to see ourselves. We found home. The first image of Earth from space stands as a crowning achievement of humankind’s quest for understanding, borne, ironically, from humanity’s darkest nature.

During World War II, Germany developed the V-2 rocket to rain terror and death upon Britain. When the war ended in 1945, the United States captured hundreds of the V-2s and brought them back to the United States and White Sands Proving Ground in New Mexico for testing.

18 07, 2019

Countdown to Apollo 11 50th – 2

Jeremy Theoret2022-03-08T07:49:04+00:00Categories: Apollo, Apollo 11, Image Collections|Tags: Apollo 11, Collins, Eagle, Earth, Earthrise, Lunar Module, Moon|0 Comments

2…

For the 10 days leading to the 50th anniversary of humanity’s first steps on another world, Apollospace will feature a different Apollo 11 photo magazine and highlight the most significant, iconic, and enduring images from the Apollo 11 mission and in the history of photography. Apollo 11 Magazine 44/V contains 157 color images, NASA #s AS11-44-6540 to AS11-44-6696. This Magazine contains photographs of the lunar surface, a beautiful color Earthrise, LM separation, the LM rendezvous with the CM, trans-earth insertion, and images of the Earth shortly before splashdown.

Some of the most iconic images from orbit are included in this magazine, including an incredible Earthrise series.

Click here for a short GIF of the color Earthrise series.

Earth

Earth From Space V – A Distant World

A Distant World

Earth From Space IV – Discovering Earth

Discovering Earth

“We came all this way to explore the Moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered the Earth” – Bill Anders, Apollo 8, “Earthrise” photographer

Earth From Space III – The Whole Earth

The Whole Earth

Earth From Space II – In Living Color

In Living Color

Earth From Space I – First Photographs From Space

First Photograph of Earth from Space, 1946

Countdown to Apollo 11 50th – 2

2…

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