Space Launch System

Space Launch System (SLS) has been designed as an exploration rocket that is able to carry humans. Intended to replace the Space Shuttle programme, it is the first time in 40 years that a new rocket of this type has been designed. The SLS will be the most powerful rocket ever built, with about 20% more thrust than Saturn V. The ultimate goal will be to take human beings to Mars.

Spacewalk Selfie

NASA’s Commander Scott Kelly took this selfie on a spacewalk in 2015 and shared it on social media. He wrote “#SpaceWalkSelfie Back on the grid! Great first spacewalk yesterday. Now on to the next one next week. #YearInSpace”. This was his first spacewalk on Expedition 45, the 45th expedition to the International Space Station.

In 1968 Apollo 8 made the first manned orbit of the Moon.In July 1969 Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the Moon, with the famous words “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”. This image shows Commander John W. Young of the 1972 Apollo 16 landing mission, saluting the United States flag. The Lunar Module Orion is on the left with the Lunar Roving Vehicle parked beside it.

Soyuz Launch

The launch of the Soyuz rocket TMA-19M is taken by an automatic camera. For a photographer to get that close to 274 tonnes of rocket fuel would not be a good idea! The Soyuz rocket launched in December 2015 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.This facility is Earth’s largest space launch centre and is situated in Kazakhstan. On board was the UK and ESA Astronaut Tim Peake.