Aug. 3, 2011

-- It's a long, tough road to becoming an astronaut. So, chances are, you'll never experience the wonders of space firsthand. And while you've probably seen the photos, they, well, can fall flat. But with a few pieces of paper, some tape and red and blue cellophane, you can be on your way to seeing space the way the astronauts do. Find instructions here: How to Make Your Own 3D Glasses. The 3D affect is created thanks to anaglyph images -- the compilation of the same photo with contrasting colors. When viewed using a pair of corresponding filters, the picture appears three-dimensional. Now that you've got your 3D glasses, take a look back at some of the most historic and iconic moments in space history like you've never seen them before. In this historic photo, astronaut Bruce McCandless II is seen floating in space, untethered (a first at the time), on Feb. 27, 1984.

What better way to spend Christmas than leaving Earth's orbit and entering the orbit of the moon? This view is what Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and William Anders saw on Christmas Eve, 1968. "Earthrise at Christmas" as the photo is known, was the first time Earth was seen as it appears from deep space, across the lunar surface.

This may be the closest you'll ever come to walking on the moon. In this iconic photo, astronaut Buzz Aldrin poses for a photo on the lunar surface. The reflection of the first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong, can be seen in Aldrin's visor. The astronauts of Apollo 11 would only spend 21 hours on the moon, conducting experiments, collecting moon rocks and, of course, taking photos.

It was a tough job, but someone had to do it -- be the first U.S. astronaut ever to "walk" in space. The honor went to Ed White on June 3, 1965, during the Gemini 4 mission. The photographer was astronaut James McDivitt. After propelling himself to and fro three times, the fuel ran out of his propeller gun. He was able to twist and maneuver himself back to the spacecraft using the tether.

In this photo, Apollo 15 Lunar Module Pilot James Irwin salutes the U.S. flag on the moon. The mission was the first to bring a wheeled vehicle to the moon in July, 1971. And what better way to explore the lunar surface than by moon buggy -- or LRV (lunar rover vehicle)?

Astronaut Stephen K. Robinson is shown here anchored to a foot restraint on the International Space Station's Canadarm2 in 2005. The mission was historic for its in-orbit maneuvers, tests of new equipment and procedures, and a first-of-its-kind spacewalking repair.

Space shuttle Endeavour is seen here docked with the International Space Station on May 23, 2011. The photo was taken by Italian astronaut Paulo Nespoli from aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule. NASA wanted the shot before it retired the shuttle fleet after one final mission in July, 2011.