NASA Photo ID: STS056-36-008       File Name: 10073213.jpg
  Film Type: 35mm                    Date Taken: 04/17/93
  Title: STS-56 remote manipulator system (RMS) backdropped against Aurora Borealis
  Description:
  STS-56 remote manipulator system (RMS) arm is backdropped against the 
  "northern lights" (Aurora Borealis) in this view exposed from the crew
  cabin  of Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103.  The arm was used in
  operations with  the Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for Astronomy
  201 (SPARTAN-201).  Space Shuttle astronauts have the opportunity to
  observe auroral activity  only on 57-degree inclination missions and only
  in the "night" hemisphere.   Astronaut hand-held photography is the only
  method which is capable of  documenting the detailed structure of the
  auroral oval.              
  Subject terms:
  AURORAS                                 
  DISCOVERY (ORBITER)                     
  EARTH OBSERVATIONS (FROM SPACE)         
  NIGHT                                   
  REMOTE MANIPULATOR SYSTEM               
  STS-56                                  
  

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