Earth observations taken by the Expedition 20 crew

ISS020-E-033530 (21 Aug. 2009) --- Black Point Lava Flow in northern Arizona, seen in this image photographed by an Expedition 20 crew member on the International Space Station, is an excellent setting for training and systems testing for future exploration missions to the moon. Seen from space, the other-worldly footprint of the dark black basaltic lava creates a striking landscape. The flow is part of Arizona?s San Francisco Volcanic Field, a group of geologically young (approximately 6 million to less than one thousand years old, according to scientists) volcanoes, flows and cinder cones located just north of Flagstaff, Arizona. Scientists believe when it erupted onto the surface, the Black Point Lava flowed eastward over the older Permian and Triassic sedimentary rock sequences (spanning the period from roughly 300 to 240 million years ago) that are so well known around the vicinity of the Grand Canyon. The eastern edge of the flow slumps down to the surrounding plain, and ends along the Little Colorado River (upper left). In late August and early September 2009, scientists and engineers from NASA and several universities will travel to the Black Point Lava Flow to conduct tests for NASA?s Lunar Electric Rover (LER). This year, a team of geologists will support the tests, simulating traverses that might occur on the moon.