Exploration Gallery

HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, 1845

Engraving showing HMS Erebus (left) and HMS Terror, pictured on the River Thames, 1845. In 1845 the British Admiralty sent two polar exploration ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, to look for the Northwest passage round the northern coast of Canada. The expedition, commanded by Sir John Franklin, disappeared from view late in 1845 and none of the men were ever seen again. In fact the ships made it to the King William Island region, then got stuck in the ice. With supplies running out the surviving crew abandoned ship and headed south. However, none made it to safety and it is assumed all died from disease, exposure or starvation. From 1848 onwards a number of relief expeditions were sent to find Franklin, but it was only in 1859 that Francis Leopold McClintock was able to confirm Franklin's fate

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10217704

Captain Francis Crozier of HMS Terror, 1845

Engraving of Captain Francis Crozier (1796-1848) of HMS Terror, pictured shortly before departing on the ill-fated Franklin Arctic expedition of 1845. In 1845 the British Admiralty sent two polar exploration ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, to look for the Northwest passage round the northern coast of Canada. The expedition, commanded by Sir John Franklin, disappeared from view late in 1845 and none of the men were ever seen again. In fact the ships made it to the King William Island region, then got stuck in the ice. With supplies running out the surviving crew abandoned ship and headed south. However, none made it to safety and it is assumed all died from disease, exposure or starvation. From 1848 onwards a number of relief expeditions were sent to find Franklin, but it was only in 1859 that Francis Leopold McClintock was able to confirm Franklin's fate

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10217699

Apollo spacecraft at the Moon, artwork

Apollo spacecraft at the Moon. Artwork of the Apollo Lunar Module (LM, left, gold) and the Apollo Command/Service Module (CSM, right, grey) at the Moon, with the Earth in the background. Each Apollo mission was crewed by three astronauts, sitting in the Command Module (CM, conical section of the CSM). The Service Module (SM) section contained fuel and batteries. Once at the Moon, two astronauts used the LM to descend to the Moon and return to the CSM, which was piloted by the third astronaut. The CM was then used to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere, with the other sections being jettisoned

© RICHARD BIZLEY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY