Who needs a shuttle?  Just take the space elevator.  Sometimes a change of perspective can help and sometimes it can mess you up.  This pic is actually side ways.  But I like it better this way.  And it shows that we do actually have clouds.  What if you could climb these cables up to the point where you could see above the clouds and out into space.  Ok, I know it's not possible, but what if you could.  Would you?  I think I would.