Astronautical-image of the Day: Space Shuttle launch and return

The Space Shuttle program is slated to be ended in 2010, with only about 10 launches remaining. For at least five years after that, the only way we - the US and NASA - will be able to get humans up to the Space Station and outward is by riding a foreign launch vehicle.

Have you seen a Shuttle launch? I haven't.

Here's the NASA launch schedule. I am going to see at least one Shuttle launch before the program ends, something we should all do. People attending next year's ICFA conference in Orlando, Florida, are planning a trip to Kennedy Space Center, and I think it would be awesome if NASA planned a launch that weekend.

Here's a video of the most-recent Space Shuttle mission, STS-123, a night launch:

And here's a shot of the Endeavor coming home:

Click the image to see the story.

See you at Kennedy.

Best,
Chris