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Ascending Collection

Ascending is a timeless pursuit that has captivated humanity throughout history

Background imageAscending Collection: Ascent of Mrs. Graham and the Royal Victoria Balloon

Ascent of Mrs. Graham and the Royal Victoria Balloon accompanied by Mrs. W. H. Adams and Miss Dean, Mermaid Tea Gardens, Hackney

Background imageAscending Collection: Vauxhall Royal Balloon first ascent

Vauxhall Royal Balloon first ascent with 9 people, from Vauxhall, London. The maximum possible number of passengers was 28. 9 September 1836

Background imageAscending Collection: SAINT JOHN CLIMACUS (550-649). Abbot of Mount Sinai. St John Climacus at the top rung of his

SAINT JOHN CLIMACUS (550-649). Abbot of Mount Sinai. St John Climacus at the top rung of his Ladder of Heavenly Ascent. A late 12th century icon from Sinai

Background imageAscending Collection: First US manned space flight, 1961

First US manned space flight, 1961. Redstone rocket launching the Freedom 7 capsule into space on 5th May 1961. This mission (Mercury-Redstone 3)

Background imageAscending Collection: [The Ascent of Mont Blanc], 1861. Creator: Auguste-Rosalie Bisson

[The Ascent of Mont Blanc], 1861. Creator: Auguste-Rosalie Bisson
[The Ascent of Mont Blanc], 1861

Background imageAscending Collection: ©EyeUbiquitous_20092712

©EyeUbiquitous_20092712
SWITZERLAND, Canton de Vaud, Chateau d Oex, Three Hot Air Balloons taking off and framed by sections of other balloons

Background imageAscending Collection: The Big Buddha statue, Po Lin Monastery, Lantau Island, Hong Kong, China, Asia

The Big Buddha statue, Po Lin Monastery, Lantau Island, Hong Kong, China, Asia

Background imageAscending Collection: A climber on the classic extreme route Raven Wall on the cliffs at Bosigran, near St

A climber on the classic extreme route Raven Wall on the cliffs at Bosigran, near St. Just, West Penwith, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Background imageAscending Collection: Winching men up from the coalface - Wales

Winching men up from the coalface - Wales. Note the Davy lamp hanging off the belt of the man in the centre. Date: circa 1910s

Background imageAscending Collection: Space Shuttle launch

Space Shuttle launch, computer enhanced image. This is mission STS-99, flown by the Space Shuttle Endeavour. It launched on 11 February 2000

Background imageAscending Collection: Launch of Vostok 1 spacecraft, 1961

Launch of Vostok 1 spacecraft, 1961
Launch of Vostok 1 spacecraft. Close-up of the exhaust flames of the rocket launching Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin (1934-1968) into orbit from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on 12 April 1961

Background imageAscending Collection: Volcan de Popocatepetl, 5452m, from Volcan de Iztaccihuatl, 5220m, Sierra Nevada

Volcan de Popocatepetl, 5452m, from Volcan de Iztaccihuatl, 5220m, Sierra Nevada, Mexico, North America

Background imageAscending Collection: Cable car approaching Aiguille du Midi summit

Cable car approaching Aiguille du Midi summit, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, French Alps, France, Europe

Background imageAscending Collection: Piccard 1931 Ascent - 1

Piccard 1931 Ascent - 1
Swiss scientist Auguste Piccard, with colleague Kipfer, reaches record altitude of 16, 201m, ascending from Augsburg and coming down in the Austrian Alps Date: 27 May 1931

Background imageAscending Collection: Wellington Cable Car, Wellington, North Island, New Zealand, Pacific

Wellington Cable Car, Wellington, North Island, New Zealand, Pacific

Background imageAscending Collection: The Queens House Ghost on the Tulip Staircase. In 1966

The Queens House Ghost on the Tulip Staircase. In 1966, a retired Canadian Reverend and his wife visited the Queens House, Greenwich, London

Background imageAscending Collection: Ghost on the Tulip Staircase of the Queens House

Ghost on the Tulip Staircase of the Queens House
Figure photographed on the Tulip Staircase of the Queens House, though photographer saw nothing; during normal opening hours of the Museum - (a digitally restored version of image 10003710)

Background imageAscending Collection: Jesus Christ, The Ascension (colour litho)

Jesus Christ, The Ascension (colour litho)
2799812 Jesus Christ, The Ascension (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Jesus Christ, The Ascension. Illustration for Histoire Sainte (Guerin, c 1890)

Background imageAscending Collection: Saturn V rocket launch, artwork

Saturn V rocket launch, artwork. The Saturn V was the launch vehicle for NASAs Apollo program of manned missions to the Moon. The Apollo program took place between 1961 and 1975

Background imageAscending Collection: Ascent of Coxwells balloon, Crystal Palace, London

Ascent of Coxwells balloon, Crystal Palace, London
The scientific ascent of Mr H Coxwells Mammoth Balloon from the Crystal Palace, London. Listing below the names of various passengers of Mr Coxwell. 1862

Background imageAscending Collection: Grand Aerostatic Balloon, Little Chelsea

Grand Aerostatic Balloon, Little Chelsea
Grand Aerostatic Balloon ascending with Mr Blanchard from the Royal Military Academy, Little Chelsea, London. 16 October 1784

Background imageAscending Collection: Stage in the ascent of Mont Blanc, c1853, (1946). Creator: George Baxter

Stage in the ascent of Mont Blanc, c1853, (1946). Creator: George Baxter
Stage in the ascent of Mont Blanc, c1853, (1946). Climbers on Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps - a man is being pulled out of a crevasse on a rope

Background imageAscending Collection: Climber on the Masara-Corda Rossa via ferrata, Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy, Europe

Climber on the Masara-Corda Rossa via ferrata, Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy, Europe

Background imageAscending Collection: The Barbarine - first climbed 1905 - Germany

The Barbarine - first climbed 1905 - Germany
The Barbarine - the best-known, free-standing rock formation in the German part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. The pinnacle is the symbol of Saxon Switzerland

Background imageAscending Collection: Balloon and parachute lecture, Charles Green

Balloon and parachute lecture, Charles Green

Background imageAscending Collection: Balloon ascent on Queen Victorias birthday

Balloon ascent on Queen Victorias birthday

Background imageAscending Collection: Kepler Mission rocket launch

Kepler Mission rocket launch. Delta II 7925 rocket taking off to launch NASAs Kepler Mission. This mission is designed to discover Earth-like planets orbiting other stars

Background imageAscending Collection: The Assumption of the Virgin, 1516-18 (oil on canvas)

The Assumption of the Virgin, 1516-18 (oil on canvas)
XIR60056 The Assumption of the Virgin, 1516-18 (oil on canvas) by Titian (Tiziano Vecellio) (c.1488-1576); 690x360 cm; Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Venice, Italy; Italian, out of copyright

Background imageAscending Collection: Jean Pierre Blanchard and a small dog ascend from the Walnut Street Prison yard in Philadelphia

Jean Pierre Blanchard and a small dog ascend from the Walnut Street Prison yard in Philadelphia for the first balloon
BALLOONING: US, 1793. Jean Pierre Blanchard and a small dog ascend from the Walnut Street Prison yard in Philadelphia for the first balloon flight in the United States, 9 January 1793. Wood engraving

Background imageAscending Collection: Mr Greens 100th balloon ascent

Mr Greens 100th balloon ascent from the Mermaid Tavern, Hackney, London. 14 May 1832

Background imageAscending Collection: Spiral staircase outside Perlan, a modern building housing the Saga Museum

Spiral staircase outside Perlan, a modern building housing the Saga Museum, Reykjavik, Iceland, Polar Regions

Background imageAscending Collection: Southern right whale

Southern right whale, Eubalaena australis, Hermanus, South Africa

Background imageAscending Collection: Huntley Himalayas 1890

Huntley Himalayas 1890
Ascending the Himalayas on a Huntley & Palmers biscuit card

Background imageAscending Collection: Nicolas Camille Flammarion ascending in a balloon

Nicolas Camille Flammarion ascending in a balloon
3732758 Nicolas Camille Flammarion ascending in a balloon; (add.info.: Engraving depicting Nicolas Camille Flammarion ascending in a balloon)

Background imageAscending Collection: Ascent of Christian and Hopeful. From The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. 19th century print

Ascent of Christian and Hopeful. From The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. 19th century print
2603523 Ascent of Christian and Hopeful. From The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. 19th century print.; (add.info.: Illustration from the theological fiction 'The Pilgrim's)

Background imageAscending Collection: Mexican-American War 1846-1848: Seven vessels under Commodore Matthew Perry ascending the Tabasco

Mexican-American War 1846-1848: Seven vessels under Commodore Matthew Perry ascending the Tabasco (Grijalva)
528734 Mexican-American War 1846-1848: Seven vessels under Commodore Matthew Perry ascending the Tabasco (Grijalva) River 15 June 1847

Background imageAscending Collection: Ascent of M. Godard's Montgolfier balloon from Cremorne Gardens, 1864. Creator: Unknown

Ascent of M. Godard's Montgolfier balloon from Cremorne Gardens, 1864. Creator: Unknown
Ascent of M. Godard's Montgolfier balloon from Cremorne Gardens, [London], 1864. The '...heated-air, balloon, with which M

Background imageAscending Collection: Silent step to the light

Silent step to the light
Ekkachai Khemkum

Background imageAscending Collection: The lady

The lady
Elinoz Sabus

Background imageAscending Collection: Magic Mountain Climber

Magic Mountain Climber
Adam Dauria ☂

Background imageAscending Collection: Légende de l'an 1850. Creator: Honore Daumier

Légende de l'an 1850. Creator: Honore Daumier
Legende de l'an 1850. Legend of the year 1850. St. Montalembert, renoncant a ramener les Parisiens dans le chemin de la vertu, remonta

Background imageAscending Collection: Vrishaketu Shoots Babhruvahana into the Air on a Circle of Arrows (recto)... c1850. Creator: Unknown

Vrishaketu Shoots Babhruvahana into the Air on a Circle of Arrows (recto)... c1850. Creator: Unknown
Vrishaketu Shoots Babhruvahana into the Air on a Circle of Arrows (recto), Scenes from the Story of Babhruvahana, Folio from a Mahabharata ([War of the] Great Bharatas) (image 2 of 2), c1850

Background imageAscending Collection: The Assumption of the Virgin, early-mid 18th century. Creator: Carlo Innocenzo Carlone

The Assumption of the Virgin, early-mid 18th century. Creator: Carlo Innocenzo Carlone
The Assumption of the Virgin, early-mid 18th century

Background imageAscending Collection: Illustration for Six Great Events of the Last Decade, 1791. Creator: Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki

Illustration for Six Great Events of the Last Decade, 1791. Creator: Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki
Illustration for Six Great Events of the Last Decade, 1791. The Death of Frederick II

Background imageAscending Collection: Jacob's Ladder, c1650. Creator: Jacques Stella

Jacob's Ladder, c1650. Creator: Jacques Stella
Jacob's Ladder, c1650

Background imageAscending Collection: The Assumption of the Virgin, between c1734 and c1740. Creator: Gaspare Diziani

The Assumption of the Virgin, between c1734 and c1740. Creator: Gaspare Diziani
The Assumption of the Virgin, between c1734 and c1740

Background imageAscending Collection: A Steep Ascent in Montigny-sur-Loing, 1876. Creator: Carl Fredrik Hill

A Steep Ascent in Montigny-sur-Loing, 1876. Creator: Carl Fredrik Hill
A Steep Ascent in Montigny-sur-Loing, 1876

Background imageAscending Collection: The Assumption, between c1653 and c1655. Creator: Laurent de la Hyre

The Assumption, between c1653 and c1655. Creator: Laurent de la Hyre
The Assumption, between c1653 and c1655




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Ascending is a timeless pursuit that has captivated humanity throughout history. From the Vauxhall Royal Balloon's first ascent to the awe-inspiring sight of St John Climacus reaching the top rung of his Ladder of Heavenly Ascent, we have always sought to rise above our limitations. In 1961, mankind witnessed a monumental moment as the first US manned space flight took off, propelling astronauts into uncharted territory and pushing the boundaries of human exploration. This historic event marked an incredible leap forward in our quest for knowledge and discovery. The Ascent of Mont Blanc, captured by Auguste-Rosalie Bisson in 1861, showcases nature's majestic beauty intertwined with man's determination to conquer towering peaks. The image serves as a reminder that sometimes it is not just about physical elevation but also about overcoming personal challenges and conquering one's fears. The Big Buddha statue at Po Lin Monastery stands tall on Lantau Island in Hong Kong, symbolizing spiritual enlightenment and inner growth. Its serene presence reminds us that ascension can take many forms - from scaling mountains to ascending towards higher levels of consciousness. Whether it be a climber braving extreme routes on Raven Wall or miners being winched up from the coalface in Wales, these acts demonstrate courage and resilience amidst adversity. Each ascent represents triumph over obstacles and serves as inspiration for others facing their own uphill battles. Space Shuttle launches continue to mesmerize audiences worldwide with their sheer power and ambition. These remarkable feats highlight humanity's relentless pursuit of progress and our unwavering desire to reach new heights both figuratively and literally. The launch of Vostok 1 spacecraft in 1961 propelled Yuri Gagarin into orbit around Earth, making him the first human being to journey into outer space. This groundbreaking achievement forever changed our perception of what was possible, igniting dreams within countless individuals who dared to imagine themselves among the stars.