Expedition 50 Crew Launches to the International Space Station

- NASA:  Expedition 50 Crew Launches to the International Space Station

In this one second exposure photograph, the Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft is seen launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome with Expedition 50 crewmembers NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos, and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Friday, Nov. 18, 2016, Kazakh time (Nov 17 Eastern time).  Whitson, Novitskiy, and Pesquet will spend approximately six months on the International Space Station.

Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

The launch took place yesterday afternoon and the photograph is novel due to the long exposure.  The rocket seems it launches out of hellfire because of the exposure but the effect is highly dramatic.

The dependability of the Soyuz launch vehicles been remarkable since this is the fiftieth expedition and the Soyuz flew an enormous number of them without incident.  For doing space 'by the numbers,' they seem to have established well how to do it and most impressively.

The planetary harmony in these multinational endeavors is at such contrast to the discord of foreign policy in general but we're thankful at least there is this.  It's consistent, real, and long-term.

Three astronauts from three different countries were launched and the International Space Station may represent the least fractious of any aspect of global foreign policy.

Jebediah:  do you believe, Brother Silas?

Oh yes, I believe, Brother Jebediah.  We are humble before the Lords of Space Travel.

Jebediah:  who are the Lords of Space Travel?

Ever'body except us, Brother Jebediah.  Ever'body but us (sob).

Jebediah:  but you do believe, Brother Silas?

I believe; I believe, Brother Jebediah.