Spacewalks – the blue sky below us [32 Pics]

By Marcus Hirn on March 10, 2011 in Arial Photography, Featured, ISS, Nasa, Space

Blue Bath
STS-116 Mission Specialists Robert L. Curbeam, Jr. (left) and Christer Fuglesang participate in the first of the mission’s three planned sessions of extravehicular activity as construction resumes on the International Space Station. Spacewalks – Blue Sky: 2006 credit: NASA

Introduction

Breathtaking views of Spacewalks with our blue planet below. Space Shuttle Discovery made its last appearance to ISS and the Astronauts had a few Spacewalks. We have put together the best, and most breathtaking images of these spacewalks and previous spacewalks throughout history.

Facts: Extra-vehicular activity (EVA) is work done by an astronaut away from the Earth, and outside of a spacecraft. The term most commonly applies to an EVA made outside a craft orbiting Earth (a spacewalk)

Hint: Use “J” and “K” keys to navigate from picture to picture.

Hello!
Astronaut Randolph Bresnik seen during Atlantis EVA-2 on 21 November 2009 with the unfurled AIS antenna, attached to Columbus to be used for experimental tracking of VHF signals of ships at sea. Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

U5zdb Spacewalks the blue sky below us [32 Pics]

Space, Horizon, Endeavour
Backdropped by the blackness of space and Earth’s horizon, Space Shuttle Endeavour, docked to the Pressurized Mating Adapter on the International Space Station, is featured in this photograph taken during the mission’s first planned spacewalk. Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

ATV at about 20 km from ISS
Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: ESA/NASA/Paulo Nespoli

Blue Aurora Borealis
Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: Unkown

NASA astronaut Nicholas Patrick
, STS-130 mission specialist, participates in the mission’s third and final session of extravehicular activity (EVA) as construction and maintenance continue on the International Space Station. During the five-hour, 48-minute spacewalk, Patrick and astronaut Robert Behnken (out of frame), mission specialist, completed all of their planned tasks, removing insulation blankets and removing launch restraint bolts from each of the Cupola’s seven windows. Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

Hello Discovery
Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA/ESA/Paulo Nespoli

Our Blue Planet
Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

Astronaut Rick Mastracchio
During the 5-hour, 28-minute spacewalk on 15 Aug. 2007, STS-118 mission specialist, participates in the mission’s third planned session of extravehicular activity (EVA) as construction and maintenance continue on the International Space Station. Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

Astronauts Clay Anderson (left), and Astronaut Rick Mastracchio
15 Aug. 2007 — Astronauts Clay Anderson (left), Expedition 15 flight engineer; and Rick Mastracchio, STS-118 mission specialist, participate in the mission’s third planned session of extravehicular activity (EVA) as construction and maintenance continue on the International Space Station.Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

The ISS casts a shadow on Discovery
Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA/ESA/Paolo Nespoli

Space Shuttle Discovery
October 25, 2007 – Backdropped by a blue and white Earth, Space Shuttle Discovery approaches the International Space Station during STS-120 rendezvous and docking operations. Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

Astronauts Steve Bowen and Al Drew working outside the ISS
It’s a hard job, but somebody has to do it! Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA/Paulo Nespoli

Astronaut Clay Anderson
Aug 15, 2007 – The blackness of space and Earth’s horizon provide the backdrop for the scene. Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

Space Shuttle Endeavour
15 Aug. 2007 — Backdropped by a blue and white Earth and the blackness of space, Space Shuttle Endeavour, docked to the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station, is featured in this image photographed by a crewmember during the STS-118 mission’s third planned session of extravehicular activity (EVA). Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA.

Floating Free – Astronaut Bruce McCandless II
In February 1984, Mission Specialist Bruce McCandless II went further away from the confines and safety of his ship than any previous astronaut had ever been. This space first was made possible by the Manned Manuevering Unit or MMU, a nitrogen jet propelled backpack. After a series of test maneuvers inside and above Challenger’s payload bay, McCandless went “free-flying” to a distance of 320 feet away from the Orbiter. This stunning orbital panorama view shows McCandless out there amongst the black and blue of Earth and space. Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

The southern extremities of Greenland
Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

Astronaut Robert L. Stewart
NASA Astronaut Robert L. Stewart Floats Above Cloudy Earth During an Untethered Extravehicular Activity (EVA) , February 1984. Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

28 Feb. 2011) — NASA astronauts Alvin Drew and Steve Bowen
They performed many tasks but among them exposed the Japanese “Message in a Bottle” experiment to space. Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

The Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope floats above Earth after its release from the shuttle Discovery, at the end of a successful servicing mission in 1999. Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

11 April 2010, NASA astronaut Rick Mastracchio
Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

Space Shuttle Endeavour’s Remote Manipulator System
15 Nov. 2008 – Space Shuttle Endeavour’s Remote Manipulator System/Orbiter Boom Sensor System (RMS/OBSS) is featured in this image photographed by an STS-126 crewmember aboard the shuttle. Earth’s horizon and the blackness of space provide the backdrop for the scene.Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

24 Nov. 2008, Astronaut Steve Bowen
Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

Space Shuttle Atlantis
17 Nov. 2009 – Backdropped by Earth’s horizon and the blackness of space, a partial view of Space Shuttle Atlantis’ payload bay, vertical stabilizer, orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pods and docking mechanism are featured in this image photographed by an STS-129 crew member from an aft flight deck window.Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

21 Nov. 2009, Astronaut Randy Bresnik
Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

14 Feb. 2010, NASA astronaut Robert Behnken
Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

The STS-131 external fuel tank
5 April 2010, Backdropped by a blue and white part of Earth, the STS-131 external fuel tank (ET) begins its relative separation from the Space Shuttle Discovery following launch. Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

Discovery’s Remote Manipulator System
25 Feb. 2011, Controlled by the STS-133 astronauts inside Discovery’s cabin, the Remote Manipulator System/Orbiter Boom Sensor System (RMS/OBSS) equipped with special cameras, begins to conduct thorough inspections of the shuttle’s thermal tile system on flight daySpacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

Astronaut Stephen K. Robinson on ISS Canadaarm2
3 August 2005, Astronaut Stephen K. Robinson, STS-114 mission specialist, anchored to a foot restraint on the International Space Station’s Canadarm2, participates in the mission’s third session of extravehicular activity (EVA). The blackness of space and Earth’s horizon form the backdrop for the image.Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

Moving HTV to a new docking port
Busy day today: moved HTV to a new docking port. We are getting ready for space shuttle STS-133. Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA/Paolo Nespoli

Astronaut Mark C. Lee tests the new Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER) system
16 Sept. 1994, Backdropped against the blue and white Earth, 130 nautical miles below, astronaut Mark C. Lee tests the new Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER) system.Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

Astronaut Robert L. Curbeam
12 Dec. 2006 — Astronaut Robert L. Curbeam, Jr., STS-116 mission specialist, participates in the mission’s first of three planned sessions of extravehicular activity (EVA) as construction resumes on the International Space Station. Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

ISS Backdropped by a blue Earth, with shadow from Shuttle Endeavour moving away
19 Aug. 2007 — Backdropped by a blue Earth, the International Space Station moves away from Space Shuttle Endeavour.Spacewalks – Blue Sky: credit: NASA

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Arial Photos, Featured, ISS, Nasa, photos from space, Space

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72 Responses to Spacewalks – the blue sky below us [32 Pics]

Jodi March 10, 2011 at 7:46 am #

Wow!

The astronauts must feel very tiny out there on their space walks. A good way to get a perspective on things…

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- Jason March 20, 2011 at 7:38 am #
  
  Apparently it’s a good way to lose it too.
  
  Reply
Juan March 10, 2011 at 1:55 pm #

I love these pictures. Astronauts are really lucky people.

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Santiago March 10, 2011 at 2:22 pm #

@Juan: that’s right there are lucky ^^

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Nick March 10, 2011 at 3:06 pm #

These NASA pictures never fail to impress.

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- Gunther Luhn April 26, 2011 at 5:15 pm #
  
  At annual budget of 17 billion US dollar, I think differently. No doubt space activities should be done, bu tnot manned. This way with 1-2Bln dollar we can still get stunningpictures. But, NASA in 2039 want you s=to see human flight about the Mars at cost of 135 Billion dollars! Yikes. This compared to Deep water oceanography gets less than 3 million dollars.
  
  Reply
  - bob June 27, 2011 at 7:21 am #
    
    the reason we sent people to space in the first place is the same reason we will never stop while there are many things we still need to learn about our own planet and granted some may lead to some amazing discoverys but no goal or discovery can compare to the importance of insuring the exsistence of human beings not only for as long as this planet can hold life but until the universe its self is no more hence the difference in financial priority of space and deep water oceanography the future really is in the stars.
    
    Reply
Bob Cummins March 11, 2011 at 7:55 am #

WOW! I love the stuff you guys produce. I wish there was more to see, but like comedy to a crowd, always leave them wanting more.

Reply
- Master Trigger March 11, 2011 at 8:54 am #
  
  Thank you kindly. We enjoy looking for interesting pictures. Thank you for your support.
  
  Reply
megHan March 12, 2011 at 10:59 pm #

I have not the words for this. That man is hanging alone above the place i visit in my sleep; my favorite view. i am indescribably jealous. i cannot convey with accuracy the intensity that i wish i could be him. right now. My desire combats with trepidation, not of being so far away from home, but being so close to that black; that infinite nothing. It scares me considerably more than the height.
With you in spirit.

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carl williams March 15, 2011 at 3:35 pm #

NIGHTRAIN

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Bill March 17, 2011 at 7:33 am #

Nice photos..but you have to wonder why NASA bothers with this, when they have been talking with the Tall Grays and others since the mid 1900′s.
I suspect that is why they are scaling this back. Do a little research, there is no doubt that the US is operating spacecraft that can fly FTL.

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Richard March 17, 2011 at 2:36 pm #

What I wouldn’t do to be in MS Bruce McCandless’s shoes on that day! What a feeling and what a view that would have been!
Awesome pictures!

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fajas colombianas March 18, 2011 at 10:03 am #

These pictures are amazing. I envy astronauts, they are lucky enough to be chosen to go into space.

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- George Bain March 28, 2011 at 9:24 am #
  
  Hay que vender muchas fajas, los ricos tambien van al espacio. Si son como las de Shakira debe de ser facil.
  
  Reply
Danny March 19, 2011 at 7:13 pm #

Love these pictures!!!!!!!!! For that matter, pictures of spaceflight and aviation are always at the top of my list!

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James March 20, 2011 at 6:24 am #

Got me. Wow.

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luefher March 20, 2011 at 7:28 am #

Magnificent pictures!!! Thanks for posting!

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please can i March 20, 2011 at 1:49 pm #

i wanna jet pack.

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edward murphy March 21, 2011 at 3:31 am #

Wow ! Whatever happened to the “Brownie” box!

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venus March 21, 2011 at 12:00 pm #

Wow a day at work for an astronaut!

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Brandon March 21, 2011 at 9:33 pm #

What a feeling!!
Even watching these photos in my office through the computer gives me highs like I am there.
Long live science

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Dean Allan Wiegert March 22, 2011 at 2:39 am #

Just Spectacular,and what a ride!!!!

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Chrisand March 22, 2011 at 11:38 pm #

Awsome pictures! I like it.

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JB March 23, 2011 at 12:44 am #

I talked with Steve Robinson after the EVA when he was attached to the end of the manipulator arm. He said he couldn’t help feel a great sense of *falling* toward Earth. But such a sensation. Such an experience. Over 125 humans have visited the space station. Tourists will have their day, on commercial launchers and commercial *destinations*.

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Monet March 23, 2011 at 10:41 am #

Really amazing…

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Mohamed Farez March 23, 2011 at 10:51 am #

Hi..ya really Astronauts are very lucky…when i saw those pictures,i felt very happy and strange about something with these pictures..
hooooooooooo..i really miss those moments…Allah is great….Allah Akbar..What a creation dad…?

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Humberto March 23, 2011 at 6:31 pm #

Woooww what a pcitures and the great astronauts feelings…. incredible…..

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Humberto March 23, 2011 at 6:31 pm #

i want a be there……………………………………..

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Alessandro March 23, 2011 at 8:02 pm #

Breath-taken pictures :Q_____

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Russ Low March 24, 2011 at 10:01 am #

Seeing McCandless free flying so far away from ISS really struck me. I could only hark back to a similar scene or two from the movie “2001 Space Odessy”(sp?) of many years ago. —- a repitious event. how amazing!

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Krunk Brunk March 27, 2011 at 7:34 am #

love em!

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George Bain March 28, 2011 at 9:29 am #

Incredible trip and after reading Hawking’s “George’s secret key to the universe” and my name being George I felt this trip – shown in the photos – is owed me.

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Colin March 30, 2011 at 5:40 pm #

Wheres the Taliban?

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Moker April 1, 2011 at 7:40 am #

As romantic as the story is, photo 16 isn’t an astronuat “floating free”, it is in fact an abandoned empty suit that they pushed into space and took a photo of it as it went. That should probably be clarified.

Other than that, AMAZING photos.

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- Master Trigger April 1, 2011 at 8:13 am #
  
  So what your are saying is that NASA is lying to us? Check the link in the caption. It goes to the original image on the NASA homepage. The text we have is copied from their caption. What do you base this information on that #16 is just an empty space suit they pushed out? It’s a pretty big claim as this picture is one of the most viewed ones this last decade.
  
  Reply
- Astro April 2, 2011 at 11:00 am #
  
  Sorry, but that suit has a backpack on it. That’s how it moves about and there is an astronaut in that suit, with a backpack on.
  
  Reply
- Daniel April 8, 2011 at 12:56 am #
  
  It is not an “empty spacesuit” in photo 16, silly. The caption says:
  
  In February 1984, Mission Specialist Bruce McCandless II went further away from the confines and safety of his ship than any previous astronaut had ever been. This space first was made possible by the Manned Manuevering Unit or MMU, a nitrogen jet propelled backpack. After a series of test maneuvers inside and above Challenger’s payload bay, McCandless went “free-flying” to a distance of 320 feet away from the Orbiter…
  
  Reply
- BRUCE STREETER May 5, 2011 at 3:06 am #
  
  what’s your source of information re the “empty” suit?
  
  Reply
  - kyle March 10, 2012 at 9:42 am #
    
    do you know how much those suits cost? do you really think they’d just shove one out of the air lock for a picture?
    
    Reply
Elliot Burfield April 4, 2011 at 10:07 pm #

Why are there no stars in these pictures?

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- Tim A. April 7, 2011 at 9:15 pm #
  
  No stars? Well, the photos are mostly taken in full sunshine. The exposures are essentially the same as a daytime exposure on Earth. Use that setting on your camera, and try to photograph stars. No luck? See, that’s it: the stars are too dim to show up in full daylight exposures. To show the stars, you’d have to expose for so long that the Earth, astronauts, shuttle … everything … would be wildly overexposed, blank white.
  
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Joe Doex April 9, 2011 at 11:32 am #

Is it a HOAX? Now..I have a question: Why is the stuff on the Moon gray? Everything is in black and white on the Moon…at least on the pictures NASA wants us to believe are from the Moon. It’s just impossible to go to the Moon and come back. That is just a fiction. And the fact that NASA expects people to BELIEVE that it was done 1969 is just hilarious.

Will they ever stop lying? No I guess not…they cannot stop now. Lie lie lie…that is the motto of NASA.

It’s just…

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- BRUCE STREETER May 5, 2011 at 3:14 am #
  
  that’s the same attitude people had re men flying, the 4-minute mile, and on-and-on…!
  
  Reply
  - Joe Doex May 16, 2011 at 5:55 am #
    
    What? Do you WORK for NASA???
    
    Reply
    - Juvenal July 23, 2011 at 10:42 am #
      
      Come on man… Get out of that crummy cave that you spent your last 50 years. We are far more capable than your poor understanding can allow you to see. Conspiracy theories are no long something that thrives people anymore. Wake up!
      
      Reply
- PV December 9, 2011 at 4:11 pm #
  
  Joe Doex rhymes with “hoax” – therefore, Joe Doex is a “hoax”. A commenter with a tiny, sad life.
  
  It doesn’t matter whether Joe Doex actually believes in the multifarious and conflicting conspiracy theories (I think it’s a bit of trolling here tbh), the fact that he/she/it has gone to the trouble of posting the comment here, for whatever reason, is testament to his/her/its stupidity.
  
  These photographs are by any measure extraordinary, both in their subject matter and visual quality. Bravo all who risk their lives doing this stuff for NASA.
  
  Reply
wBw April 24, 2011 at 7:55 am #

These photographs so vividly capture the beauty and awesomeness of our planet. Most important is to recognize that Jehovah God, our heavenly Father, created all of these beautiful things for us. We are so small and insignificant in the big picture of the universe, yet Jehovah created the Earth for us, to perfectly meet all of our needs–both physical, emotional, and spiritual.
It is no accident that man can accurately calculate the rotations of the sun, moon, and Earth, knowing how to…

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Dan Wright April 28, 2011 at 9:37 am #

I’m amazed!! What did the first guy to go untethered think!

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Fendrayton May 3, 2011 at 5:39 pm #

Its times when I see pictures like this that I wish I could see them on an IMAX screen. Could you just IMAGINE the EERINESS you would get from that view. I’d have a death grip on my arm rests just to keep myself from floating away. ABSOLUTELY INDESCRIBABLE pics. QUESTION: In picture 31, the side of the space capsule(?) or whatever it is, appears to be covered with squares of “canvas” domed to the structure. What IS that material?
THANK YOU FOR SOME FABULOUS PICS.

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BRUCE STREETER May 5, 2011 at 3:22 am #

Someday we will see “worlds without end….” I wish I believed in reincarnation — and would come back when such was accomplished!

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- Joe Doex May 16, 2011 at 5:59 am #
  
  Man is a mere flesh and bone who lives for a very short time. Soon we will die
  
  Reply
  - PV December 9, 2011 at 4:14 pm #
    
    And so will you. So what?
    
    Reply
L.Todd May 17, 2011 at 4:07 am #

These are clearly altered. Last Time I checked there were other stars and celestial bodies. These pics are fake, just like NASA.

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- Roselyn July 11, 2011 at 10:44 pm #
  
  I can’t believe how ignorant people still are concerning NASA and it’s WONDERFUL accomplishments! Thank you so much for all the work you’ve done, NASA, and if your only mission was to send photos back so we can see the beauty of the earth, that would be purpose enough. We live on an awesome planet with nothing blocking our view, and this was by design, because we are a curious people and love discovering things.
  
  Reply
bryce July 25, 2011 at 5:16 pm #

space, the final frontier. i think this would be cheaper and space exploration would go faster if all the countries would team up. it is in mans nature to explore and to expand.

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STEN July 28, 2011 at 9:47 pm #

Anyone else see the object bottom right in picture 4? That is the Moon right?

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jose jones September 2, 2011 at 7:29 pm #

why is there no stars in these pictures but you can see stars from earth

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- Souperman November 30, 2011 at 5:06 am #
  
  @Jose Jones. A basic course in photography will answer that question for you.
  
  If you’re looking for a conspiracy here, try not to start from a position of ignorance, it doesn’t help.
  
  Reply
Junaidi Yurid September 25, 2011 at 6:15 pm #

Stars just sight seeing from the earth, if you see from nearest them are not beautifull…………eehmmm

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Junaidi Yurid September 25, 2011 at 6:21 pm #

Wow……nice picture, take me there….?

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nexus888 December 23, 2011 at 1:50 am #

photo 16, myyyy goooddd…

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Ramesh Nahata March 17, 2012 at 10:01 pm #

i am Ramesh from india
i am looking to provide space walk / moon walk feeling on earth to common people.
it is all most like when any new person join to team of the moon travel .. than they go from lot of training and one training include where they get experience in ZERO gravities climate .. that what all i am looking to provide exactly to a common citizen .. but on earth .. it is as simple as like any one go cinema and spend few hours and similar way they go and spend some time in Zero gravity .
i am ready for it what all i am looking a correct technology partner .
let me know if any one can help me ?
send more detail to my email id as nahata #at swizer dot com

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Carina Tiotuico March 28, 2012 at 3:18 am #

Everything is so real….but it is a fiction I think!
But if is real?…….How come the Moon is so gray compare with other pictures!!!!
I don’t have very much experience in this subject NASA. But what they want to demonstrate is not real for me!
I am a Catholic and I believe in All the sky family and so I race my son the same way!
That’s why he said all the time that Jesus is his friend.We believe in him and in his mother Holly Mary!
No! a computer can make so many videos with fictions!……no.no.no!

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