NASA Photo ID: STS057-99-020       File Name: 10073291.jpg
  Film Type: 70mm                    Date Taken: 07/01/93
  Title: STS-57 OV-105's payload bay (PLB) with Earth observation of Namib Desert
  Description:
  STS-57 Earth observation taken aboard Endeavour, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 105,
  is  of the coast of the Namib Desert. This northeast-looking view shows the 
  distinctive yellow, parallel dunes of the Namib Sand Sea in the foreground 
  under OV-105's tail.  The largest harbor on the Atlantic coast is Walvis
  Bay.  A small piece of south African territory surrounded by the newly
  independent  country, Walvis Bay is Namibia's major port. On the dune-free
  flats directly  inland from Walvis Bay, large reserves of near-surface
  uranium have been  discovered.  The world's largest open-pit uranium mine,
  the Rossing Mine, has  attracted workers from all parts of Namibia.  Of
  special interest for this  mission is the unusual occurrence of blowing
  dust offshore (orange patch over  the sea).  In what was a mission
  dominated by episodes of blowing dust, this  is another example showing how
  windy the Earth is at present.  This large  view from a higher-than-usual
  altitude includes the large oval patch of the  Etosha dry lake near the
  Angolan border (top left).  nearby, the Brandberg  and Erongo geological
  structures appear as dark ovals.  At 8,687 feet, the  Brandberg is the
  highest point in Namibia.  Both structures are volcanic; the  Erongo is
  more eroded.  Windhoek, the capital city, lies in the exact middle  of the
  country, in this photo about halfway from the SPACEHAB-01 module and  the
  stowed remote manipulator system (RMS) arm.  Partially visible in the aft 
  PLB are the Superhelium Onorbit Transfer (SHOOT) liquid helium dewar
  assembly  and the stowed European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) spacecraft
  behind it. 
  
  Subject terms:
  AFRICA                                  
  ATLANTIC OCEAN                          
  COASTS                                  
  DESERTS                                 
  EARTH OBSERVATIONS (FROM SPACE)         
  ENDEAVOUR (ORBITER)                     
  NAMIBIA                                 
  PAYLOAD BAY                             
  REMOTE MANIPULATOR SYSTEM               
  STS-57                                  
  

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