NASA. Space Shuttle Program. Inspection of the Discovery shu - Lot 239

NASA. Space Shuttle Program. Inspection of the Discovery shuttle's heat shield from the International Space Station. July 2005. With exceptional clarity, this photograph shows the nose and heat shield of the Discovery shuttle, as viewed from the International Space Station moments before its docking. Taken with a powerful telephoto lens during the shuttle’s spectacular roll maneuver, it reveals with remarkable detail the thousands of protective tiles that ensure the orbiter’s survival during its reentry into the atmosphere. Having become emblematic of the resumption of flights following the Columbia accident, this image combines remarkable photographic quality with major historical significance in the history of the Space Shuttle program. Vintage chromogenic print. Numbered on the front. Caption on a label on the back. 20.4 x 25.4 cm with margins.