The privately built and launched Genesis 2 took this unique image from on-high. Orbiting the Earth since late June of this year, the new spacecraft follows Genesis I, which was lofted in July 2006, and continues to successfully return data and images from Earth orbit. Genesis 2 is identical in size and appearance to Genesis I – approximately 15 feet (4.4 meters) in length and 6.2 feet (1.9 meters) in diameter at launch, expanding to eight feet (2.54 meters) in diameter after expansion in orbit.

Genesis 2 and the earlier module were designed and built by Bigelow Aerospace of Las Vegas, Nevada – part of an ongoing development by the entrepreneurial firm of providing larger living quarters for crews in Earth orbit.

How did they take the picture? Bigelow Aerospace invites readers to guess. Click here to make a guess. Check their website for "[m]ore news on Monday September 3rd."

--Leonard David and SPACE.com Staff

Credit: Bigelow Aerospace