Photo Agency - Astronomy - Space - Nature

> Space Shuttle Atlantis lift-off - 11/2009

Space Shuttle Atlantis lift-off - 11/2009

author: Nasa/Novapix

reference: e-sts12-92004

Image Size 300 DPI: 17 * 25 cm

With nearly 7 million pounds of thrust generated with the aid of twin solid rocket boosters, space shuttle Atlantis roars into the blue skies over Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Liftoff on its STS-129 mission came at 2:28 p.m. EST Nov. 16 2009. Aboard are crew members Commander Charles O. Hobaugh; Pilot Barry E. Wilmore; and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnik, Mike Foreman and Robert L. Satcher Jr. On STS-129, the crew will deliver two Express Logistics Carriers to the International Space Station, the largest of the shuttle's cargo carriers, containing 15 spare pieces of equipment including two gyroscopes, two nitrogen tank assemblies, two pump modules, an ammonia tank assembly and a spare latching end effector for the station's robotic arm. Atlantis will return to Earth a station crew member, Nicole Stott, who has spent more than two months aboard the orbiting laboratory. STS-129 is slated to be the final space shuttle Expedition crew rotation flight.

Keywords for this photo:

2009 - CAPE CANAVERAL - FLORIDA - KENNEDY SPACE CENTER - LAUNCH - LAUNCHER - MANNED SPACEFLIGHT - SPACE CENTER - SPACE SHUTTLE - SPACESHIP - STS-129 -