Working shuttle missions are very exciting. Some days are more exciting than others. Yesterday, as I helped navigate the orbiter in for a rendezvous, it was awesome. Today, as the orbiter follows Newton's Laws, falling around the Earth in neat little circles while I try to stay alert, not as awesome. As a coworker says "The Newtonian Inertial Gravitational Drive continues to function nominally". Basically, gravity still works and therefore everything is where we expect it to be.

These are some pictures from the launch. These are your typical, standard space shuttle launch pictures. Albeit with a particularly cool clear blue sky background:

Someone decided to fly a Buzz Lightyear doll on this mission. An intreprid reporter decided to set up a Woody doll waving goodbye to him. Now that's an awesome launch picture!