Historic photo of Atlantis returning to Earth -- as seen from space

[progressoid]

Historic photo of Atlantis returning to Earth -- as seen from space

We've all seen five-million-pound U.S. space shuttles launch, 135 times to be exact.

We've all seen them land back on Earth in Florida or California, 133 times to be exact.

But not until the very last space shuttle flight did we ever get to see what the giant craft's return to the atmosphere looks like -- from space.Atlantis Launches on its final journey 7-8-11

The crew of the International Space Station caught this unprecedented view above of Atlantis' fiery re-entry early Thursday morning, Eastern time.

... http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/07/atlantis-return-from-space-nasa-rick-perry-.html





Apologies if this has already been posted.

[Brickbat]

1. Lovely, and sad.

Space is all, well, it was nice knowing you. Come back again sometime.

[leveymg]

2. I wish we could afford more and better and safer, but not right now.

Farewell, Space Shuttle and, for now, the U.S. manned space program.

:patriot:

[theoldman]

3. It must be a fake photo.

It shows that the earth is round. :)

[Historic NY]

4. Flatlander...........ROFL.

[progressoid]

5. Pretty bad CGI.

George Lucas does a better job.

[Control-Z]

6. Are you blind, man?

You can see it right there, in the photo. The earth begins on one side and ends on the other. One step off that pic...