Picture - Dark Shuttle Approaching

Dark Shuttle Approaching
Image Credit: Space Station Expedition 22 Crew,NASA

Explanation: What's that approaching? Astronauts on board theInternational Space Station first saw it in early 2010 far in the distance. Soon it enlarged to become adark silhouette. As it came even closer, thesilhouette appeared to be a spaceship. Finally, the object revealed itself to be theSpace Shuttle Endeavour, and it soon docked as expected with the Earth-orbiting space station. Pictured above, Endeavour was imaged near Earth's horizon as it approached, where several layers of theEarth's atmosphere were visible. Directly behind the shuttle is themesosphere, which appears blue. The atmospheric layer that appears white is thestratosphere, while the orange layer is Earth'sTroposphere. This shuttle mission, began with adramatic night launch. Tasks completed during this shuttle's visit to the ISS included the delivery of the Tranquility Module which contained a cupola bay window complex that allows even better views of spaceships approaching and leaving the space station.