Saturday, November 15, 2008

The full moon shines bright high above space shuttle Endeavour as it prepares to launch towards the International Space Station on November 14, 2008.
NASA / Kim Shiflett

ENDEAVOUR LAUNCHES... Just thought I’d share these two cool photos of the full moon shining high above the space shuttle as it launched on flight STS-126 yesterday evening. Endeavour’s mission involves the installation of several important furnishings (including new sleeping quarters and a high-tech recycling system that converts astronauts’ sweat and urine—you heard right—into clean drinking water) onto the International Space Station to enhance its capability to hold a 6-person crew starting next May or June. Only 3 astronauts/cosmonauts have lived onboard the orbiting outpost since it permanently became habitable 8 years ago this month.

Endeavour is scheduled to return to Kennedy Space Center in Florida on November 29.

The full moon provides a backdrop as space shuttle Endeavour soars into the night sky on flight STS-126 on November 14, 2008.
NASA / Troy Cryder