This photo, taken from the International Space Station, shows Cape Town, South Africa from space. NASA paid tribute to the late Nelson Mandela by sharing the photo across its social media platforms.

(Chris Hadfield)

NASA joined in on a chorus of tributes to the late Nelson Mandela Thursday, by sharing an image of Cape Town, South Africa taken from the International Space Station across its social media platforms.

"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," the space agency said in . NASA also shared the image, taken by ,to the more than 5 million followers of its account, and the more than 2 million followers of its.

"Hadfield tweeted this image and wrote, 'Cape Town, South Africa and the South Atlantic calling to forever,'" wrote NASA.

Cape Town served as a key setting for Mandela's march against racial inequality. After nearly three decades of imprisonment for his protestations against apartheid,Mandela emerged as a political force,servingas the first black President of South Africa, and peacefully steering the country toward a policy of racial equality,

Mandela died in Johannesburg Thursday night after a prolonged bout with a host of health problems, .

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New York City, posted on April 23, 2013. Cmdr. Chris Hadfield tweets: Incredibly clear, before the trees have filled with leaves. (Chris Hadfield/NASA)