STS-131: BLAST OFF

Hundreds of frames and six weeks - shot with a Canon EOS 5D DSLR:
...at 3:14 make sure your sound is on... This is not just a piece of metal, you will see it is the launch of our hopes and dreams.

UPDATE:

Bill Whittle tells us how NASA provided inspiration for himself and America, even though it is a government run program, recently relegated from space exploration to Muslim outreach. Don't fret. The private sector is filling the void left in space by the Obama adminstration. Can the individual succeed where the federal government has failed?

One Small Misstep for a Man, One Giant Leap for Private Enterprise