Space Shuttle Endeavour Payload Bay by National Geographic

The Payload Bay on Endeavour is 4.6m wide by 18m long (15ft by 59ft) and could carry payloads up to 25,060kg (55,250 pounds). It was often used to transport satellites or space station components to orbit but could also carry a Spacelab module with a myriad of experiments or provide a platform for the orbital servicing of satellites. Endeavour’s first mission involved the capture, repair, and redeployment of the Intelsat VI satellite involving the first three-person spacewalk ever. Later, the Hubble Space Telescope was serviced for the first time in this Payload Bay.

Photographer: Jon Brack
www.jonbrack.com 
Image composed of 549 frames shot with a Canon 5D Mark II, 105mm, ISO 320, 1/40 second exposure at f/4.5.