All in a Weeks Work

These are some of the more astounding pictures I’ve come across from the recent shuttle mission delivering the European Columbus Lab to the ISS:

I hope commercial spaceflight gets its act together before I kick the bucket because this would be one hell of an inspiring view to see in person.

High Flight

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds -- and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of -- wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence.

Hovering there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or even eagle flew.

And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.