NASA has released a rare photograph of Mount Everest taken from space during the space shuttle Columbia’s STS-80 mission in 1996. The image, which captures the world’s tallest peak at 8,848 meters, shows Everest near a distinctive V-shaped valley surrounded by several glaciers.
This view, shared by NASA, highlights Everest’s towering elevation alongside its expansive glacial landscape. Columbia’s crew captured the photo on November 30, 1996, during the STS-80 mission the final shuttle mission of that year, which successfully launched and retrieved two research spacecraft.
NASA frequently shares space-based images of Earth’s natural landmarks to offer fresh perspectives for scientific study and public appreciation of the planet’s landscapes.
