Nearly 700 photographs from the golden age of space exploration are being sold by Bloomsbury Auctions in London. The sale includes iconic images and a large number of rarely seen photographs from NASA. Seen here is the first photo from space, captured on October 24, 1946, by a camera attached to a V-2 missile and launched from New Mexico. The official boundary of space is the Karman line, which lies at an altitude of 62.5 miles.
Nearly 700 photographs from the golden age of space exploration are being sold by Bloomsbury Auctions in London. The sale includes iconic images and a large number of rarely seen photographs from NASA. Seen here is the first photo from space, captured on October 24, 1946, by a camera attached to a V-2 missile and launched from New Mexico. The official boundary of space is the Karman line, which lies at an altitude of 62.5 miles.
NASA
Explorer 1 is launched on January 31, 1958. It was the first artificial satellite launched from the United States, signaling the birth of its space program. "There is beauty in space, and it is orderly. ... Everything in space obeys the laws of physics. If you know these laws, and obey them, space will treat you kindly," aerospace engineer Wernher von Braun said.
Explorer 1 is launched on January 31, 1958. It was the first artificial satellite launched from the United States, signaling the birth of its space program. "There is beauty in space, and it is orderly. ... Everything in space obeys the laws of physics. If you know these laws, and obey them, space will treat you kindly," aerospace engineer Wernher von Braun said.
NASA
Astronaut Alan Shepard is pictured in his Mercury spacesuit aboard Freedom 7 during the United States' first human spaceflight on May 5, 1961.
Astronaut Alan Shepard is pictured in his Mercury spacesuit aboard Freedom 7 during the United States' first human spaceflight on May 5, 1961.
NASA
During the Gemini 4 mission in June 1965, Ed White became the first American to perform a spacewalk. He floated in space 135 miles above Earth for 20 minutes.
During the Gemini 4 mission in June 1965, Ed White became the first American to perform a spacewalk. He floated in space 135 miles above Earth for 20 minutes.
NASA
Traveling at 17,000 mph, the Gemini 6 crew flies to within inches of the orbiting Gemini 7 spacecraft in December 1965. It was the first rendezvous in space.
Traveling at 17,000 mph, the Gemini 6 crew flies to within inches of the orbiting Gemini 7 spacecraft in December 1965. It was the first rendezvous in space.
NASA
Buzz Aldrin takes the first selfie in space during the Gemini 12 mission in November 1966.
Buzz Aldrin takes the first selfie in space during the Gemini 12 mission in November 1966.
NASA
The first view of the Earth from the moon was taken by a spacecraft on August 23, 1966. It is a sight that has only ever been seen by the later Apollo astronauts as they came around the far side of the moon.
The first view of the Earth from the moon was taken by a spacecraft on August 23, 1966. It is a sight that has only ever been seen by the later Apollo astronauts as they came around the far side of the moon.
NASA
The first color photograph of Earth was captured on November 10, 1967, five years before the astronauts of Apollo 17 could <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvisibleearth.nasa.gov%2Fview.php%3Fid%3D55418" target="_blank" target="_blank">witness it with their own eyes</a>.
The first color photograph of Earth was captured on November 10, 1967, five years before the astronauts of Apollo 17 could witness it with their own eyes.
NASA
The surface of Mars is seen by Mariner 9, the first unmanned spacecraft to orbit a planet. Between 1971 and 1972, the spacecraft mapped 85% of the Red Planet and returned 7,329 photos. The Martian Valles Marineris canyon system is named after Mariner 9, in honor of its achievements.
The surface of Mars is seen by Mariner 9, the first unmanned spacecraft to orbit a planet. Between 1971 and 1972, the spacecraft mapped 85% of the Red Planet and returned 7,329 photos. The Martian Valles Marineris canyon system is named after Mariner 9, in honor of its achievements.
NASA
The crew of Apollo 7 is seen during the first live television broadcast from space in October 1968. There were seven telecasts that lasted just a few minutes each.
The crew of Apollo 7 is seen during the first live television broadcast from space in October 1968. There were seven telecasts that lasted just a few minutes each.
NASA
Space food is seen on Apollo 8 in December 1968. On Christmas Day, the crew feasted on ready-to-eat turkey, gravy and cranberry sauce.
Space food is seen on Apollo 8 in December 1968. On Christmas Day, the crew feasted on ready-to-eat turkey, gravy and cranberry sauce.
NASA
The space module "Charlie Brown" became the first spacecraft photographed in lunar orbit during the Apollo 10 mission in May 1969.
The space module "Charlie Brown" became the first spacecraft photographed in lunar orbit during the Apollo 10 mission in May 1969.
NASA
In July 1969, Apollo 11's Neil Armstrong captured the first photo of a man standing on the moon: fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
In July 1969, Apollo 11's Neil Armstrong captured the first photo of a man standing on the moon: fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
NASA
This now famous image of Aldrin's boot was taken to provide a visual record of the relative density of the moon's surface. "I felt buoyant and full of goose pimples when I stepped down on the surface," Aldrin said. "I immediately looked down at my feet and became intrigued with the peculiar properties of the lunar dust."
This now famous image of Aldrin's boot was taken to provide a visual record of the relative density of the moon's surface. "I felt buoyant and full of goose pimples when I stepped down on the surface," Aldrin said. "I immediately looked down at my feet and became intrigued with the peculiar properties of the lunar dust."
NASA
This dramatic view shows an eclipse that occurred when the Earth moved between the sun and the Apollo 12 spacecraft in November 1969. It's a scene that can only be seen from space. "When the Earth completed eclipsing the sun, you could see a big white light right in the middle of the Earth moving across the ocean. We didn't know what that was," astronaut Alan Bean said. "When we got back, Rusty Schweickart pointed out that it was the moon right behind us reflecting off the Earth."
This dramatic view shows an eclipse that occurred when the Earth moved between the sun and the Apollo 12 spacecraft in November 1969. It's a scene that can only be seen from space. "When the Earth completed eclipsing the sun, you could see a big white light right in the middle of the Earth moving across the ocean. We didn't know what that was," astronaut Alan Bean said. "When we got back, Rusty Schweickart pointed out that it was the moon right behind us reflecting off the Earth."
NASA
Jack Swigert works on the "mailbox" in the Apollo 13 lunar module Aquarius in April 1970. The service module that had been due to take the astronauts back to Earth was destroyed by an oxygen tank explosion. Speaking to mission control, Jim Lovell delivered the famous line: "Houston, we've had a problem." In order to purge carbon dioxide from the lunar module, an improvised contraption that became known as the mailbox was devised. "I never felt we were in a hopeless situation," Fred Haise said. "No, we never had that emotion at all. We never were with our backs to the wall, where there were no more ideas, or nothing else to try, or no possible solution. That never came."
Jack Swigert works on the "mailbox" in the Apollo 13 lunar module Aquarius in April 1970. The service module that had been due to take the astronauts back to Earth was destroyed by an oxygen tank explosion. Speaking to mission control, Jim Lovell delivered the famous line: "Houston, we've had a problem." In order to purge carbon dioxide from the lunar module, an improvised contraption that became known as the mailbox was devised. "I never felt we were in a hopeless situation," Fred Haise said. "No, we never had that emotion at all. We never were with our backs to the wall, where there were no more ideas, or nothing else to try, or no possible solution. That never came."
NASA
Apollo 15's Alfred Worden completes the first deep-space spacewalk in August 1971. Every other spacewalk before then took place in low Earth orbit, never more than about 370 miles away from the home planet.
Apollo 15's Alfred Worden completes the first deep-space spacewalk in August 1971. Every other spacewalk before then took place in low Earth orbit, never more than about 370 miles away from the home planet.
NASA
Earth is seen above Eugene Cernan and the antenna of the lunar rover during Apollo 17 in December 1972. It was the final mission of the Apollo program. "I thought about it when we left the surface," Cernan said. "I just felt it might very well be a generation before we get back to the moon. I'm probably going to be proven to be right."
Earth is seen above Eugene Cernan and the antenna of the lunar rover during Apollo 17 in December 1972. It was the final mission of the Apollo program. "I thought about it when we left the surface," Cernan said. "I just felt it might very well be a generation before we get back to the moon. I'm probably going to be proven to be right."
NASA