re: Mike's best view ever (from space)
Whilst that view sounds about as good as it can be short of being on EVA....
But I wouldnt agree that the ISS can't do it...
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-4/html/iss004e10046.html
The Lab has a very big window which is nadir facing. The arm and the shuttle can be seen from it there - but currently if you looked out of it you would see nothing but Earth - and it's bigger than the overheads on the STS flight deck.
Doug