Endeavour to Orbit

Birds don't fly as high. Airplanes don't go as fast. The Statue of Liberty weighs
less. No species other than human can even comprehend what is going on, nor could
any human just a millennium ago. The launch of a rocket bound for space is an event
that inspires awe and challenges description. The exhaust column pictured is from the
Space Shuttle Endeavour after last week's night launch to visit the International Space
Station. Endeavour's rocket engines create the dramatic glow from above the clouds.
From a standing start, the two million kilogram rocket ship left to circle the Earth where
the outside air is too thin to breathe and where there is little noticeable onboard gravity.
Rockets bound for space are now launched from somewhere on Earth about once a week.