NASA Photo ID: STS056-36-008      File Name: 10073213.gif 
 
Film Type: 35mm CN                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.