The Sum of Its Parts

摘要

Late june in kazakhstan. a russian Proton rocket sits poised for launch at the once-secret Baikonur space base. Observers from NASA and other space agencies have crowded into the vintage control room, and journalists from around the world are monitoring the countdown. At zero, the Proton's engines thunder; it lifts away from Earth and quickly disappears from sight. The first module of the long-awaited International Space Station is headed for orbit.