#sts-39

The charged particles from the Sun strike Earth's magnetosphere to create the Aurora Australis and are captured during STS-39 Discovery.

"Moonlight saturates the high speed film used for auroral photography. Moon glint is visible in the open ocean and the cloud patterns are well illuminated. This frame was taken with a handheld 35mm camera from inside the Space Shuttle Discovery's crew cabin. This is one of 25 visuals used by the STS-39 crew at its May 17, 1991 Post Flight Press Conference (PFPC). Discovery's flight of eight days duration, launched April 28, 1991 from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and completed on May 6, 1991 at the KSC landing facility, was dedicated to the Department of Defense (DOD). Crew members were astronauts Michael L. Coats, L. Blaine Hammond, Guion S. Bluford, Richard J. Hieb, Gregory J. Harbaugh, Donald R. McMonagle and Charles L. (Lacy) Veach."

Date: April 28 - May 6, 1991

In August 30, 1983 he flew on board Challenger, as one of 3 Mission Specialists. Challenger completed 98 orbits of the Earth and splashed down in September 5, 1983. Bluford would complete 3 more space shuttle missions, retiring from the Air Force and NASA in 1993.

Colonel G Stewart Bluford Jr (holding the model plane) is pictured with his wife, Linda Tull, and sons James and Guion III. (Source: NASA and Terry Slezak for Life Magazine)

"Workers watch as the Space Shuttle Discovery makes the slow journey back from Pad 39A into the Vehicle Assembly Building. After the shuttle is demated, the orbiter will be returned to the Orbiter Processing Facility for repairs to hinges on an orbiter umbilical door. STS-39 is still set to fly this year."

Date: March 7, 1991

"The orbiter Discovery, its wheels retracted atop the orbiter transporter, rolls over from the OPF high bay to the VAB. Discovery is slated to lift off in March on mission STS-39, a DoD flight carrying a crew of seven."

Date: December 20, 1990

The 12th mission of the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-39) launched on 28 April 1991.