Space Salute: NASA Pays Tribute to Nelson Mandela

The space agency remembered South Africa's revered first black leader by highlighting an image of his native land as seen from the International Space Station

Tributes honoring former South African President Nelson Mandela continued pouring in from all over the world -- including one from out of this world.

NASA remembered the nation’s revered first black leader by highlighting an image of South Africa as seen from the International Space Station.

"In honor of the anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, who passed away today at the age of 95, here is an image of Cape Town, South Africa, from space," NASA said Thursday on its Google+ page.

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield captured the image on May 9, 2013, while living and working aboard the International Space Station, according to NASA.

Hadfield tweeted the image and wrote, “’Cape Town, South Africa and the South Atlantic calling to forever,’” NASA said on Twitter.

The agency shared the image with 5.4 million of its Twitter followers and 1.7 million Google+ followers.

Others in the space industry also remembered Mandela, who was known affectionately in South Africa by his clan name, Madiba.

SpaceX's billionaire founder and a native of South Africa Elon Musk wrote in a Twitter message, "Rest in peace, Nelson Mandela. A man both good and great."

Legendary astronaut Buzz Aldrin called Mandela "a true inspiration and role model for peace and international collaboration."

"We will continue to learn from him," Aldrin said in a Twitter post.
 

Contact Us