This May 23, 2006 NASA image obtained on Earth Day, April 22, 2009, shows Mt. Everest and nearby Mt. Makalu in this oblique photograph of the Tibetan Plateau taken from the International Space Station in 2004. It might look like a photo taken from an airplane, until one remembers the summits are at the height typically flown by commercial jets. Getty Images logo Getty Images 6 months ago

This May 23, 2006 NASA image obtained on Earth Day, April 22, 2009, shows Mt. Everest and nearby Mt. Makalu in this oblique photograph of the Tibetan Plateau taken from the International Space Station in 2004. It might look like a photo taken from an airplane, until one remembers the summits are at the height typically flown by commercial jets.

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  1. In this image provided by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory the surface Saturn's moon, Enceladus, captured by Cassini on its Nov. 2, 2009, flyby of Enceladus. The camera was pointing toward Enceladus from approximately 14,000 kilometers (9,000 miles) away.
  2. Ben Shelef, left, and David Bashford of the LaserMotive discuss their entry into the $2 million Space Elevator Games after the device was weighed-in at the end of the day at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  3. Thomas Nugent, left, and Jordin Kare of the LaserMotive team talk about their entry in the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  4. This handout photo from NASA shows the KC Space Robots robot climbing a cable suspended from a helicopter, not shown, in the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  5. This handout photo from NASA shows the LaserMotive robotic climber nearing the goal on a cable suspended from a helicopter, not shown, in the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  6. A member of the University of Saskatchewan dozes off after spending most of the night preparing the team's entry into the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  7. Photovoltaic cells, temporarily protected by colored plastic, are seen below as Andrew Williams of the University of Saskatchewan works on his team's entry into the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  8. This handout photo from NASA shows David Bashford, right, lead of the LaserMotive team, preparing their robotic climber entry in the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. After three years without a winner in a NASA-backed competition to develop the science fiction space elevator concept, the team from Seattle on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009 collected $900,000 after its laser-powered robotic machine raced up more than 2,950 feet (nearly 1 kilometer) of cable dangling from a helicopter.
  9. This handout photo from NASA shows David Bashford, right, lead of the LaserMotive team, preparing their robotic climber entry in the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  10. KC Space Pirates team member Dan Leafblad is reflected in the mirror of the laser used by his team in the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  11. Photovoltaic panels, which convert laser light into electrical energy similar to solar panels, are seen on the bottom of the LaserMotive entry in the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  12. An electric motor powered by photovoltaic cells below provides the lifting force for the LaserMotive entry into the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  13. Team leader David Bashford, right, prepares the LaserMotive robotic climber during the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  14. This handout photo from NASA shows Dan Leafbflad, left, and other members of the KC Space Pirates preparing their robotic climber entry in the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  15. This handout photo from NASA shows Brian Turner, left, and Dan Leafblad preparing the KC Space Pirates robotic climber for its run in the $2 million Space Elevator Games at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. In a the test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter, on a course 900 meters (2,953 feet) high.
  16. CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - OCTOBER 28: NASA's Ares 1-X test rocket lifs off from launch pad 39-b at the Kennedy Space Center October 28, 2009 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA has designed the Ares to be the replacement to the aging space shuttle fleet.

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  7. A Salvadoran man works at a street damaged by heavy rains and mudslides in Ilopango east to San Salvador November 8, 2009. At least 91 people died and another 60 or more are missing after floods and mudslides in El Salvador triggered by Hurricane Ida, the government said on Sunday.
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  11. Kurt Busch celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Fort Worth, Texas.
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  16. Security men pass by the remains of a San Miguel Corporation sign outside its headquarters in Mandaluyong city, east of Manila, after a man hurled an explosive device on Monday Nov. 9, 2009. Two explosions, the other outside a supermarket, rocked the metro area early Monday. No injuries were reported.