View from the Sky (15 photos)

On June 1, 2008, the space shuttle Discovery launched with six crew members on board. It became the 154th human-carrying spacecraft launched by the United States. The shuttle flew to the International Space Station to deliver its largest module—the core section of the Japanese Kibo (Hope) module—as well as spare parts for the station's only toilet.

From June of last year to today, three more American shuttles have launched into space (Endeavor (STS-126) on November 15, 2008, Discovery (STS-119) on March 15, 2009, and Atlantis (STS-125) on May 11, 2009). Five more space shuttles will be launched before the end of the Space Shuttle program, which NASA has scheduled for 2010.

Some of the most amazing, beautiful, and rare photographs are those taken by astronauts during the space program. In today's collection, you'll find photos of our planet taken from altitudes of 300 km and above.







The space shuttle Discovery lifts off from Launch Pad 39-A at Kennedy Space Center on May 31, 2008, at Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images)





Shuttle Discovery lifts off from Launch Pad 39-A at 5:02 PM. (Photo courtesy of NASA/Johnson Space Center)



Cumulonimbus clouds over Africa - 2/5/2008 (Image courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center)



Anvil cloud at sunset. (Image courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center)



Storm clouds over the Libya-Chad border, Africa - 10/18/2003 (Image courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center)



Over the Gulf of Mexico - 1/8/2007 (Image courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center)



Cloud formation on the windward side of Socorro Island, Mexico - 2/12/2000 (Image courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center)



A golden sunset is reflected in the Pacific Ocean - 4/26/2008 (Image courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center)



A storm front gathers over the US Midwest - 8/19/2003 (Image courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center)



Dust storm over Mali, Sahara Desert - 6/6/2001 (Image courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center)



Moonset over the Caribbean Sea - 10/10/2007 (Image courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center)



Lightning flashes, city lights, sunset, aurora australis, airglow, and stars over Argentina - 4/23/2003 (Image courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center) Center)



Cloud, dust storm over central China - 6/3/2002 (Image courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center)



Storm clouds over Central Africa - 5/4/2005 (Image courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center)



The moon sets over Cuba. Atmospheric distortion makes it appear flat, 2/24/2005 (Image courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center)

Source: The Boston Globe

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