<p><strong>The empty payload bay of the <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/orbitersend.html">space shuttle <em>Endeavour</em></a> is illuminated as the spacecraft zooms over city lights on Earth in May. This shot of the shuttle, at the time docked with the <a href="http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/space-exploration/international-space-station-article.html">International Space Station</a>, is among National Geographic News editor's picks for the best space pictures of 2011.</strong></p><p><em>Endeavour</em> is shown during its final mission, which was also intended to be <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/07/110707-space-shuttle-launch-final-mission/">the last flight for the 30-year-old NASA space shuttle program</a>. Instead that honor went to the space shuttle <em>Atlantis,</em> which was approved for an additional mission and launched in July.</p><p>(See <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/06/pictures/110601-space-shuttle-endeavour-nasa-mark-kelly-landing-final-last/#/space-shuttle-endeavour-final-mission-landed-launch-above-clouds">more pictures from the space shuttle <em>Endeavour'</em>s final flight</a>.)</p><p><em><strong>Editor's Note:</strong> A picture of the Milky Way over the Himalaya was removed from this gallery December 19 because photo editors and astronomers determined that the image was unacceptably manipulated.</em></p>