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Astronauts in Space Laboratory

NASA astronauts conduct experiments inside the International Space Station, showcasing advanced scientific equipment and intricate technology in a microgravity environment.

ISS038-E-053269 (19 Feb. 2014) --- In the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata, Expedition 38 flight engineer, prepares a second batch of NanoRacks CubeSats for deployment.
ISS038-E-053269 (19 Feb. 2014) --- In the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata, Expedition 38 flight engineer, prepares a second batch of NanoRacks CubeSats for deployment.
362 assets in this story
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ISS023-E-036876 (10 May 2010) --- NASA astronaut T.J. Creamer, Expedition 23 flight engineer, services the Advanced Plant Experiments on Orbit-Cambium (APEX-Cambium) experiment in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station.
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ISS013-E-65721 (10 Aug. 2006) --- European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Thomas Reiter, Expedition 13 flight engineer, replaces the number two replaceable pump panel (SPN) in the number one loop (VGK1) of the International Space Station's Zarya functional cargo block (FGB) thermal control system with a new spare from stowage.
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STS035-15-010 (2-11 Dec 1990) --- Astronaut John M. (Mike) Lounge, STS-35 mission specialist, communicates with family members from the middeck of Space Shuttle Columbia in Earth orbit. The STS-35 Shuttle amateur radio experiment (SAREX), allowed the Astro 1 crewmembers to visit and briefly share some of their in space experiences with family members. The picture was made with a 35mm camera. Note Used by Astronomer Ronald A. Parise on his off-duty hours, SAREX provided radio transmissions between ground based amateur radio operators around the world and the Shuttle. Parise is a payload specialist who is also a licensed amateur radio operator (call-sign WA4SIR). The experiment enabled students from all over the United States to have a chance to communicate with an astronaut in space.
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ISS010-E-12590 (6 January 2005) --- Astronaut Leroy Chiao, Expedition 10 commander and NASA ISS science officer, participates in a training session with the Mobile Service System (MSS) Rack and Canadarm2, or Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station (ISS).
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ISS003-E-6189 (August 2001) --- Astronaut Scott J. Horowitz, STS-105 mission commander, adds the STS-105 crew patch to the growing collection of those representing Shuttle crews who have worked on the International Space Station (ISS). This image was taken with a digital still camera.
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STS106-E-5099 (11 September 2000) ---Astronaut Richard A. Mastracchio, mission specialist, stands near viewing windows, video monitors and the controls for the remote manipulator system (RMS) arm (out of frame at left) on the flight deck of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Atlantis during Flight Day 3 activity.Atlantis was docked with the International Space Station (ISS) when this photo was recorded with an electronic still camera (ESC).
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ISS036-E-026661 (31 July 2013) --- In the International Space Stations Rassvet Mini-Research Module (MRM1), Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin, Expedition 36 flight engineer, works with the Aseptic experiment, which involves collecting air and surface samples in the Russian segment of the station for analysis.
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. iss068e040300 (Jan. 16, 2023) - Roscosmos cosmonaut and Expedition 68 Flight Engineer Anna Kikina checks procedures on a computer and works on life support maintenance tasks aboard the International Space Station.
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S125-E-009947 (18 May 2009) --- Astronaut Megan McArthur, STS-125 mission specialist, works the controls of the remote manipulator system (RMS) on the aft flight deck of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Atlantis during flight day eight activities.
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ISS034-E-009719 (24 Dec. 2012) --- Expedition 34 Flight Engineer Tom Marshburn exercises on the Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill (COLBERT) 2 in the Tranquility node aboard the International Space Station.
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ISS029-E-008336 (22 Sept. 2011) --- NASA astronaut Mike Fossum, Expedition 29 commander, works with the Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) Multi-user Drop Combustion Apparatus (MDCA) in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station.
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iss064e033239 (Feb. 16, 2021) --- NASA astronaut and Expedition 64 Flight Engineer Victor Glover poses for a portrait in front of the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) located inside the International Space Station's U.S. Destiny laboratory module. The MSG supports a wide variety of space studies exploring everything from physics to biology.
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JSC2010-E-006698 (5 Jan. 2010) --- NASA astronaut James P. Dutton Jr., STS-131 pilot, participates in an undocking timeline training session in the Guidance and Navigation Simulator in the Mission Simulation Development Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
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S122-E-007643 (10 Feb. 2008) --- Astronaut Daniel Tani, Expedition 16 flight engineer, trims his hair in the Harmony node of the International Space Station while Space Shuttle Atlantis is docked with the station. Tani used hair clippers fashioned with a vacuum device to garner freshly cut hair.
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S122-E-008016 (12 Feb. 2008) --- Astronaut Daniel Tani, STS-122 mission specialist, works in the Columbus laboratory -- the newest addition to the International Space Station -- while Space Shuttle Atlantis is docked with the station.
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iss060e043690 (8/22/2019) --- (Aug. 22, 2019) ---European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Luca Parmitano conducts science operations in the Life Sciences Glovebox aboard the International Space Station (ISS). He is working on the Goodyear Tire experiment that is exploring ways to manufacture safer, more fuel-efficient tires on Earth.
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iss060e002302 (July 2, 2019) --- Expedition 60 Flight Engineer Christina Koch of NASA cleans and replaces life support hardware inside the International Space Station's Tranquility module.
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S106-E-5259 (17 September 2000) ---Tools that look much like those that you might find in any residential garage are being left onboard the International Space Station (ISS) for its future residents. Holding this set is astronaut Richard A. Mastracchio, partially out of frame. As any "handy person" will tell you, a variety of basic tools are a life-saver when any one of a number of contingencies arise.
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iss056e097438 (July 19, 2018) --- NASA astronaut Ricky Arnold swabbed surfaces in the International Space Station to collect microbe samples. He then processed the microbial DNA using the Biomolecule Sequencer, a device that enables DNA sequencing in microgravity, to identify microbes able to survive in microgravity.
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iss059e013244 (April 6, 2018) --- NASA astronaut and Expedition 59 Flight Engineer Christina Koch conducts botany research aboard the International Space Station.
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S89-E-5660 (22-31 Jan 1998) --- Using a Payload General Support Computer (PGSC) onboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis, astronaut Bonnie J. Dunbar, mission specialist, enters data associated with supply transfer to Mir Space Station. The photograph was taken with an Electronic Still Camera (ESC).
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ISS020-E-037439 (1 Sept. 2009) --- Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko, Expedition 20 flight engineer, installs a Russian SUDN pilot sighting instrument PUMA at a window in the Zvezda Service Module of the International Space Station. Puma Portable Zoom Viewfinder is used to view remote objects and determine their angular position in the service module coordinate system in order to provide geographical reference of observed terrestrial objects, and to determine the target vector in a specified coordinate system.
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S130-E-008751 (15 Feb. 2010) --- STS-130 and Expedition 22 crew members share a meal in the Unity node of the International Space Station while space shuttle Endeavour remains docked with the station. Pictured from the right are George Zamka, STS-130 commander; and Nicholas Patrick, mission specialist.
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S122-E-007645 (10 Feb. 2008) --- Astronaut Daniel Tani, Expedition 16 flight engineer, trims his hair in the Harmony node of the International Space Station while Space Shuttle Atlantis is docked with the station. Tani used hair clippers fashioned with a vacuum device to garner freshly cut hair.
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. iss069e051734 (July 31, 2023) --- Expedition 69 Flight Engineers (from left) Woody Hoburg and Frank Rubio, both from NASA, are pictured practicing on the International Space Station's robotics workstation to capture Northrop Grumman's Cygnus cargo craft with the Canadarm2 robotic arm.
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ISS021-E-006261 (13 Oct. 2009) --- NASA astronaut Nicole Stott, Expedition 21 flight engineer, works with the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) SPACE SEED experiment in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station.
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S119-E-006168 (16 March 2009) --- Astronaut Steve Swanson, STS-119 mission specialist, reads a procedures checklist while working on the middeck of Space Shuttle Discovery during flight day two activities.
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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Sen. John F. Kerry, D-Mass., visits the flight deck of Space Shuttle Discovery during a tour of the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF). The bunny suit” he is wearing is clean room attire required for anyone coming in close proximity to Discovery, currently being prepared for flight on the next Space Shuttle mission. The tour of the OPF follows a public meeting Kerry held at the Dr. Kurt H. Debus Conference Facility at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. He said he chose to speak at KSC because it symbolizes America’s commitment to science, innovation and technology. He and Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., are on a speaking tour prior to their appearance at the Democratic National Convention in Boston.
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iss065e154567 (June 30, 2021) --- Expedition 65 Commander Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency works inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox for the InSPACE-4 advanced materials study today that seeks to improve the strength and safety of Earth and space systems.
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ISS007-E-10478 (16 July 2003) --- Astronaut Edward T. Lu, Expedition 7 NASA ISS science officer and flight engineer, uses a computer in the Destiny laboratory on the International Space Station (ISS).
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S89-E-5310 (26 Jan 1998) --- This Electronic Still Camera (ESC) image shows astronauts David A. Wolf, former cosmonaut guest researcher (on left), and Andrew S. W. Thomas, future cosmonaut guest researcher. Wolf, during hand-over operations, explains the use of this scientific piece of equipment to Thomas, who will use this equipment during his tour aboard the Russian Mir Space Station. This ESC view was taken on January 26, 1998, at 15:50:31 MET.
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PHOTO DATE: 03-12-14LOCATION: Bldg. 9NW - ISS MockupsSUBJECT: Expedition 41 crew (Soyuz 39)with Suraev, Wiseman, Gerst for 3 person emergency scenarios training in the ISS mockups.
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S127-E-009752 (28 July 2009) --- Astronauts Mark Polansky (left), STS-127 commander; and Christopher Cassidy, mission specialist, close the hatch on the middeck of Space Shuttle Endeavour prior to undocking from the International Space Station to conclude 11 days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and the station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 12:26 p.m. (CDT) on July 28, 2009.
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. iss068e040292 (Jan. 16, 2023) - Roscosmos cosmonaut and Expedition 68 Commander Sergey Prokopyev wears a head cap with sensors measuring his performance while practicing on a computer potential spacecraft and robotic piloting techniques a crew member might use during future planetary missions.
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ISS024-E-008590 (18 July 2010) --- NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Expedition 24 flight engineer, works with the Microgravity Experiment Research Locker/Incubator (MERLIN) on Express rack 6 in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station.
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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Andy Schuerger, a research assistant professor with the University of Florida, demonstrates the Mars Simulation Chamber at the Space Life Sciences Lab during a tour of the facility for members of the news media. Schuerger is studying the effects of interplanetary space and Mars surface conditions on the survival, growth, and potential adaption of terrestrial microbes to the martian surface.
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iss052e027048 (Aug. 4, 2017) --- Astronaut Peggy Whitson works on the Combustion Integrated Rack in the U.S. Destiny laboratory module.
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ISS015-E-10595 (3 June 2007) --- Cosmonaut Fyodor N. Yurchikhin, Expedition 15 commander representing Russia's Federal Space Agency, cuts astronaut Sunita L. Williams' hair in the Zvezda Service Module of the International Space Station. Williams, flight engineer, holds a vacuum device fashioned to garner freshly cut hair.
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ISS010-E-06007 (6 November 2004) --- Astronaut Leroy Chiao (left), Expedition 10 commander and NASA ISS science officer, and cosmonaut Salizhan S. Sharipov, flight engineer representing Russia's Federal Space Agency, add their crew’s patch to the Unity node’s growing collection of insignias representing crews who have worked on the International Space Station (ISS).
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Technician David Johnson works on rewiring the high-altitude ER-2 aircrafts fixed nose and cockpit.
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ISS016-E-008075 (30 Oct. 2007) --- Astronauts Stephanie Wilson, STS-120 mission specialist; and Daniel Tani, Expedition 16 flight engineer, work the controls of the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) or Canadarm2 in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station while Space Shuttle Discovery is docked with the station.
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iss048e045079 (07/27/2016) --- Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi performs eye scans inside of the U.S. Destiny laboratory aboard the International Space Station. Crew members' bodies change in a variety of ways during space flight, and some experience impaired vision. To help develop countermeasures, crew members record their visual health during and after long-duration space station missions.
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iss059e113779 (June 18, 2019) --- Canadian Space Agency astronaut David Saint-Jacques checks plants being grown for the Veg-04A space botany experiment taking place inside the International Space Station's Columbus laboratory module from the European Space Agency. The study focuses on the impact of light quality and fertilizer on leafy crop growth for a 28-day grow-out, microbial food safety, nutritional value, taste acceptability by the crew, and the overall behavioral health benefits of having plants and fresh food in space.
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Lasers in the 1x1 Wind Tunnel
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ISS034-E-038211 (1 Feb. 2013) --- Canadian Space Agency astronaut Chris Hadfield, Expedition 34 flight engineer, installs Ultra-Sonic Background Noise Tests (UBNT) sensors behind a rack in the Destiny laboratory, using the International Space Station (ISS) as Testbed for Analog Research (ISTAR) procedures. These sensors detect high frequency noise levels generated by ISS hardware and equipment operating within Destiny.
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iss057e074565 (Nov. 9, 2018) --- Flight Engineer Serena Auñón-Chancellor (right) takes a group selfie with her Expedition 57 crew mates (from left) Flight Engineer Sergey Prokopyev and Commander Alexander Gerst. The three-person crew was gathered for dinner in the Zvezda Service Module, part of the International Space Station's Russian segment.
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Onboard Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-62) Mission commander John H. Casper takes stock of paraphenalia used to support medical testing onboard Columbia's mid-deck.
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ISS002-E-5507 (07 April 2001) --- Cosmonaut Yury V. Usachev, Expedition Two mission commander, wears a harness while conducting resistance exercises in the Node 1 / Unity module of the International Space Station (ISS). This image was recorded with a digital still camera.
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iss053e210425 (Nov. 7, 2017) --- Flight Engineer Joe Acaba holds a children's book that he is reading from as part of the Story Time From Space program. Astronauts read aloud from a STEM-related children's book while being videotaped and demonstrate simple science concepts and experiments aboard the International Space Station.
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DATE: 1-18-13LOCATION: Bldg. 9NW - ISS MockupsSUBJECT: Soyuz 43 crew members Kjell Lindgren and Kimiya Yui (JAXA) during ISS hatch and rack training with instructor Jehon Leonce.
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ISS034-E-021232 (10 Jan. 2013) --- Russian cosmonaut Evgeny Tarelkin, Expedition 34 flight engineer, looks at his watch while using the Liulin-5 Electronic Block behind a panel in the Rassvet Mini-Research Module 1 (MRM1) of the International Space Station.
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S133-E-006076 (25 Feb. 2011) --- AstronautsAlvin Drew and Nicole Stott, both STS-133 mission specialists, take a break from flight day 2 duties on Discovery's aft flight deck as the shuttle makes its way toward a weekend docking with the International Space Station.
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S133-E-006069 (25 Feb. 2011) --- Astronaut Alvin Drew, STS-133 mission specialist, on the flight deck inside Discovery's cabin, surveys the work of the Remote Manipulator System/Orbiter Boom Sensor System (RMS/OBSS). Equipped with special cameras, the system was aiding the crew to conduct thorough inspections of the shuttles thermal tile system on flight day 2. Astronaut Steve Lindsey, commander, is at controls just out of frame.
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iss064e027743 (Jan. 28, 2021) --- NASA astronaut and Expedition 64 Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins collects leaf samples from plants growing inside the European Columbus laboratory. Space agriculture is key to the success and sustainability of future human missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond.
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ISS031-E-140701 (23 June 2012) --- Russian cosmonaut Sergei Revin, Expedition 31 flight engineer, works on the BTKh-26 KASKAD (Cascade) experiment in the Rassvet Mini-Research Module 1 (MRM-1) of the International Space Station.
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iss061e014149 (Oct. 27, 2019) --- NASA astronaut Jessica Meir waters plant pillows where Mizuna mustard greens are raised as part of the Veg-04B experiment. This investigation is part of a phased research project to address the need for a continuous fresh food production system in space and focuses on the effects of light quality and fertilizer on a leafy crop. Taste is assessed by the crew.
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ISS028-E-050058 (15 Sept. 2011) --- NASA astronaut Mike Fossum, Expedition 28 flight engineer, inspects a new growth experiment on the BIO-5 Rasteniya-2 (Plants-2) payload with its LADA-01 greenhouse in the Zvezda Service Module of the International Space Station.
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S89-E-5328 (27 Jan 1998) --- This Electronic Still Camera (ESC) image shows astronaut James F. Reilly, mission specialist, holding the Mechanics of Granular Materials (MGM) experiment. The MGM experiment is aimed at understanding the behavior of granular materials, such as sand or salt, under very low confining pressure. This pressure is the force that keeps a granular material sticking together. The experiment has applications in a wide range of fields, including earthquake engineering; coastal and off-shore engineering; mining; transportation of granular materials; soil erosion; the handling of granular materials such as grains and powders; off-road vehicles; geology of the Earth; and planetary geology and exploration. Findings from the experiment may lead to improved selection and preparation of building sites, better management of undeveloped land, and improved handling of materials in chemical, agricultural and other industries.
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JSC2010-E-006712 (5 Jan. 2010) --- NASA astronaut Stephanie Wilson, STS-131 mission specialist, participates in an undocking timeline training session in the Guidance and Navigation Simulator in the Mission Simulation Development Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
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STS79-E-5018 (17 September 1996) --- Astronaut Jerome (Jay) Apt prepares experiment, a rod-like device for insertion into Extreme Temperature Translation Furnace (ETTF) in STS-79-E-5019, during early mission chores aboard Spacehab in the Space Shuttle Atlantis cargo bay, on Flight Day 2.
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STS107-E-05033 (18 January 2003) --- Astronaut Michael P. Anderson, STS-107 payload commander, is pictured on the aft flight deck of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Columbia.