Earth observations taken during the STS-59 mission

STS059-228-094 (9-20 April 1994) --- The spring thaw along the coast of the Gulf of Alaska has not touched the St. Elias Mountains, southeast of Yakutat Bay and Malaspina Glacier. A prominent glacier flows from Mt. Fairweather (15,300 feet) at right center, to form Cape Fairweather. Another glacier to the northwest almost reaches the sea; the valley of the Alsek River forms a broad, braided plan at upper left. The low sun elevation and oblique angle of this photograph provide a striking 3-dimensional appearance to the black-and-white landscape. SRL investigators will study microwave response to varying depths and conditions of ice and snow along this coast, in Spring and Summer. Hasselblad photograph.