<p>Backlighted by sunshine streaming over Earth's horizon, the <a href="http://www.esa.int/esaCP/index.html">European Space Agency</a>'s Johannes Kepler automated transfer vehicle separates from the <a href="http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/space-exploration/international-space-station-article.html">International Space Station</a> on June 20. Stuffed with garbage—including astronaut urine—the unmanned craft tumbled back to Earth the next day, becoming a fireball over a remote section of the Pacific Ocean. <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/06/110621-atv-johannes-kepler-fireball-pacific-iss-esa-space-science/">Get the full story >></a></p>
Before the Fall
Backlighted by sunshine streaming over Earth's horizon, the European Space Agency's Johannes Kepler automated transfer vehicle separates from the International Space Station on June 20. Stuffed with garbage—including astronaut urine—the unmanned craft tumbled back to Earth the next day, becoming a fireball over a remote section of the Pacific Ocean. Get the full story >>
Space Pictures This Week: Shuttle, Strange Clouds, More
"Night shining" clouds creep southward, a space shuttle shuts down, a storm circles Saturn, and more in the week's best space pictures.
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