After Hours

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

By Sonja Thompson

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NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Apollo 11 Launch

Apollo 11 Launch

Recapture some moments in NASA history by viewing these photographs of iconic spacecraft and aircraft taking flight.

These photos are taken from NASA’s new Commons page on Flickr. For more information, read “NASA brings historic photos to Flickr Commons.”

All photos, titles, and captions are courtesy of NASA.

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Apollo 10 Liftoff

Apollo 10 Liftoff

Albert Siepert points out highlights of Apollo 10 Liftoff to Belgium King and Queen.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Liftoff of Space Shuttle Endeavour

Liftoff of Space Shuttle Endeavour

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Workers at Cape Kennedy watched a Saturn 1B lift off

Workers at Cape Kennedy watched a Saturn 1B lift off

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Titan IVB/Centaur

Titan IVB/Centaur

Liftoff of a Titan IVB/Centaur carrying the Cassini orbiter and its attached Huygens probe.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Bumper V-2 Launch

Bumper V-2 Launch

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

DC-8 during takeoff in Kiruna, Sweden

DC-8 during takeoff in Kiruna, Sweden

This was the second flight of the SAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment (SOLVE).

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Russian Tu-144LL SST Flying Laboratory

Russian Tu-144LL SST Flying Laboratory

Takeoff at Zhukovsky Air Development Center.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

X-34 mated to modified L-1011

X-34 mated to modified L-1011

During takeoff on first captive carry flight.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Hermes A-1 Test Rockets

Hermes A-1 Test Rockets

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

First JATO assisted Flight

First JATO assisted Flight

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Soyuz TMA-8

Soyuz TMA-8

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Spirit Launch

Spirit Launch

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) Launches

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) Launches

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Magnetic Launch Assist Demonstration Test

Magnetic Launch Assist Demonstration Test

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Magnetic Launch Assist System Demonstration Test

Magnetic Launch Assist System Demonstration Test

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

First Saturn (SA-1) Launch

First Saturn (SA-1) Launch

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Return to Flight

Return to Flight

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Guppy

Guppy

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

The Atlas V Clears the Tower

The Atlas V Clears the Tower

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Lighting Up the Night

Lighting Up the Night

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Lunar Prospector

Lunar Prospector

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Mars Climate Orbiter

Mars Climate Orbiter

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Delta II rocket with the Mars Polar Lander

Delta II rocket with the Mars Polar Lander

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

C-8A Buffalo Augmentor Wing Jet STOL Research Aircraft

C-8A Buffalo Augmentor Wing Jet STOL Research Aircraft

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

X-43A and its booster rocket tucked under B-52B wing

X-43A and its booster rocket tucked under B-52B wing

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

X-15 #2 just after launch

X-15 #2 just after launch

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

SR-71 Takeoff with Afterburner Showing Shock Diamonds in Exhaust

SR-71 Takeoff with Afterburner Showing Shock Diamonds in Exhaust

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Perseus A High Altitude Remotely Piloted Aircraft

Perseus A High Altitude Remotely Piloted Aircraft

Being Towed in Flight.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Theseus Take-off from Rogers Dry Lake

Theseus Take-off from Rogers Dry Lake

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

X-36 Carried Aloft by Helicopter

X-36 Carried Aloft by Helicopter

Taken during Radio and Telemetry Tests.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Eclipse program F-106 aircraft

Eclipse program F-106 aircraft

Takeoff from airport in Mojave, California.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

X-38 Ship #2 in Free Flight

X-38 Ship #2 in Free Flight

After Release from B-52 Mothership.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Solar-powered Gossamer Penguin in flight

Solar-powered Gossamer Penguin in flight

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV) in flight

Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV) in flight

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Helios Prototype flying wing

Helios Prototype flying wing

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

NASA's modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft

NASA's modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft

With the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Ling-Temco-Vought XC-142A

Ling-Temco-Vought XC-142A

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Paresev 1-B in Tow Flight

Paresev 1-B in Tow Flight

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Ham Launch

Ham Launch

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Carpenter Launch

Carpenter Launch

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Launch of Mercury-Atlas

Launch of Mercury-Atlas

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Apollo 11 liftoff

Apollo 11 liftoff

Personnel within the Launch Control Center watch the Apollo 11 liftoff.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Liftoff of the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission

Liftoff of the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Orbiter Atlantis (STS-110) Launch

Orbiter Atlantis (STS-110) Launch

With New Block II Engines.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Space Shuttle Discovery

Space Shuttle Discovery

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

The First Redstone Rocket Firing

The First Redstone Rocket Firing

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

F-100A Super Sabre Airplane

F-100A Super Sabre Airplane

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

The second X-43A hypersonic research aircraft

The second X-43A hypersonic research aircraft

And its modified Pegasus booster rocket accelerate.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Shuttle Endeavour Mated to 747 SCA Takeoff

Shuttle Endeavour Mated to 747 SCA Takeoff

For Delivery to Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Eclipse project QF-106 and C-141A takeoff

Eclipse project QF-106 and C-141A takeoff

On first tethered flight December 20, 1997.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

One of NASA's Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft

One of NASA's Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft

Flying over the Dryden Flight Research Center.
Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

XV-15 tilt rotor takeoff

XV-15 tilt rotor takeoff

The first NASA Dryden flight.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Little Joe (LJ6) Launch

Little Joe (LJ6) Launch

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

HL-10 on Lakebed with B-52 flyby

HL-10 on Lakebed with B-52 flyby

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

STS-31 Launch

STS-31 Launch

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Launch of Friendship 7

Launch of Friendship 7

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Vertol VZ-2 (Model 76)

Vertol VZ-2 (Model 76)

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Expedition 13

Expedition 13

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Launch of Apollo 4

Launch of Apollo 4

Activity in the Mission Control Room during launch of Apollo 4.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Early moments of the Apollo 11 launch

Early moments of the Apollo 11 launch

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

STS-121 Shuttle Mission

STS-121 Shuttle Mission

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

STS-112 Shuttle Mission

STS-112 Shuttle Mission

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Delta II rocket - ICESat and CHIPSat

Delta II rocket - ICESat and CHIPSat

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

WB-57f takeoff

WB-57f takeoff

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

STS-131 Discovery Launch

STS-131 Discovery Launch

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Kepler Launches

Kepler Launches

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis

Launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Soaring Spaceward

Soaring Spaceward

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Moonfest

Moonfest

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Delta Liftoff

Delta Liftoff

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Monitoring the Launch

Monitoring the Launch

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Apollo 11 Pre-Launch Activities

Apollo 11 Pre-Launch Activities

Apollo Director Phillips Monitors Apollo 11 Pre-Launch Activities.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Apollo 11 Launched Via Saturn V Rocket

Apollo 11 Launched Via Saturn V Rocket

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Apollo 11 Launched

Apollo 11 Launched

Apollo 11 Launched Via the Saturn V Rocket-High Angle View.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

STS-96 Launch

STS-96 Launch

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

HL-10 in flight after launch

HL-10 in flight after launch

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

D-558-2 launch from B-29 mothership

D-558-2 launch from B-29 mothership

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Dryden Aerospike Rocket Test

Dryden Aerospike Rocket Test

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

X-15 contrail after launch

X-15 contrail after launch

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Pegasus Engine Ignites

Pegasus Engine Ignites

After Drop from B-52 Mothership.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

SR-71B - Mach 3 Trainer in Flight at Sunset

SR-71B - Mach 3 Trainer in Flight at Sunset

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

X-33 air drop model

X-33 air drop model

Takeoff with mothership.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

XB-70A #1 liftoff with TB-58A chase aircraft

XB-70A #1 liftoff with TB-58A chase aircraft

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

X-24A in Powered Flight

X-24A in Powered Flight

After Drop from B-52 Mothership.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

STS-1 Launch

STS-1 Launch

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Apollo 11 Lift Off

Apollo 11 Lift Off

Thousands of News Reporters Watch Apollo 11 Lift Off.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Gemini 8 Launched by Titan Booster

Gemini 8 Launched by Titan Booster

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Ikhana

Ikhana

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Viking 1 Launch

Viking 1 Launch

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Nixon and Paine at Apollo 12 Launch

Nixon and Paine at Apollo 12 Launch

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Apollo 16 television transmission

Apollo 16 television transmission

Apollo 16 television transmission of lunar module ascent stage liftoff.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Apollo 11 Launch Spectators

Apollo 11 Launch Spectators

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

The Launch of Mercury-Redstone

The Launch of Mercury-Redstone

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Apollo 11 Launch Spectators

Apollo 11 Launch Spectators

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Apollo Project

Apollo Project

Liftoff of Lunar Orbiter III.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Apollo 11 Launch

Apollo 11 Launch

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Gemini-Titan 11 Launch

Gemini-Titan 11 Launch

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Apollo 11 Launch Spectators

Apollo 11 Launch Spectators

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

After Apollo 11 Liftoff

After Apollo 11 Liftoff

Apollo 11 Mission Official Relax After Apollo 11 Liftoff.

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

View of the liftoff of Little Joe II

View of the liftoff of Little Joe II

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Inside the Launch Control Center

Inside the Launch Control Center

Photo credit: NASA

NASA spacecraft and aircraft in flight

Scout Project

Scout Project

Photo credit: NASA

Image of Sonja Thompson
By Sonja Thompson
My name is Sonja Thompson. I've worked for TechRepublic since October of 1999, starting with the enewsletter team, then with the Premium Products group (creating books and CDs), as well as programming some of the elements on the site. After leading t