Blast from Space Past: Restored Iconic Astronaut Selfies and Walks Revealed!

A collection of rare and 'deeply personal' photographs taken by NASA astronauts has been restored and is now on display for the public at Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire. These images, which had been locked away in a vault in Houston for decades, capture some of the most important moments from the early years of space exploration. Among the highlights are Ed White's historic first American space walk and Buzz Aldrin's pioneering selfie taken in space. The restoration work was carried out by Andy Saunders, who spent thousands of hours carefully bringing these old and sometimes damaged images back to life. Saunders hopes that the exhibition will help people appreciate the incredible achievements of the early space missions and the risks that astronauts took to explore the unknown.

One of the most remarkable images in the exhibition is of Ed White, the first American to walk in space. The original film was very underexposed and difficult to see, but Saunders managed to recover the image by digitally stitching together two separate photos. He describes the photo as 'deeply personal,' giving viewers the feeling that they are right there in the spacecraft with White. Another standout image is Buzz Aldrin's first selfie in space, which has been restored to a level of detail never seen before. In the newly enhanced photo, Aldrin's face and even the reflection of his hand are clearly visible, offering a unique glimpse into the experience of being in space.

The exhibition also explores the history of Project Mercury and Project Gemini, two key programs in the United States' early space efforts. Project Mercury, which ran from 1958 to 1963, was the country's first human spaceflight program. Project Gemini followed from 1964 to 1966 and was designed to test the techniques needed for the Apollo missions to the moon. Saunders points out that Gemini was a crucial step in proving that a journey to the moon was possible, even though it involved significant risks. For example, Neil Armstrong nearly lost his life during the Gemini 8 mission. The exhibition also highlights the important role played by Jodrell Bank Observatory in the space race. The Lovell Telescope, the largest radio telescope in the UK, tracked the rocket that launched Sputnik 1 in 1957 and received the first pictures of the moon's surface in 1966. Jodrell Bank also served as the UK's early warning system during the Cold War. The exhibition will be open until January 2026, offering visitors a chance to see these restored images and learn more about the history of space exploration.