The milestones of STS-133 Space Shuttle Discovery launch (reverse order):

03:50 GMT (Feb. 25) – Crew sleep begins
02:15 GMT (Feb. 25) – ET video downlink
02:10 GMT (Feb. 25) – ET photo
22:40 GMT – Post insertion timeline begins
22:30 GMT – OMS-2 rocket firing (orbit circularization)

~ 22:03:34 GMT @ T+09:00 – Nominal MECO, OMS-1 not required. With a direct insertion ascent, the main engines are burned slightly longer to achieve the desired apogee altitude, such that an OMS-1 maneuver (which would supply the additional thrust needed to reach orbit) is not required.

- 22:03:07 GMT @ T+08:33 – External Tank (ET) separation.

External Tank Separation

- 22:03:04 GMT @ T+08:30 – Zero Thrust.

- 22:02:58 GMT @ T+08:24 – Main Engine Cut-off (MECO). Discovery has reach the planned orbit and is schedule to dock with the International Space Station on Flight Day 3.

- 22:02:15 GMT @ T+07:41 - Negative Istres.

- 22:01:54 GMT @ T+07:20 - Negative Moron.

- 22:00:47 GMT @ T+06:13 – Press to MECO and Single Engine Zaragoza 104 – Discovery can now reach planned orbit in case of a single SSME failure and the Zaragoza TAL site on a single engine at 104.5% throttle.

- 22:00:04 GMT @ T+05:30 – Single Engine OPS-3, select Zaragoza – Discovery could now reach the designated TAL site in Zaragoza Spain with a single engine at Full Power Level (FPL), i.e 109% throttle, should two of the SSME‘s fail (the OPS-3 software mode will be used for re-entry) – Prior to this point, the loss of two engines requires contingency abort procedures and OPS 6 software.

- 22:00:02 GMT @ T+05:28 – Roll to heads-up.

- 21:59:42 GMT @ T+05:08 – Press to ATO select Zaragoza – Discovery could now reach a safe orbit (circular / 194.5 km) with two Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) throttled at Typical Mission Power Level (104.5%) in case of a single SSME failure. Should one of the engines fail the crew could execute the Abort To Orbit (ATO) maneuver (in case of TAL abort, the landing facility in Zaragoza would be used).

- 21:59:02 GMT @ T+04:28 – End of OMS Assist.

- 21:58:28 GMT @ T+03:54 – Negative Return – Discovery has used too much fuel and is traveling too fast (9,310 km/h), too high (95 km) and is too far (191 km) to return to the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for a potential Return To Launch Site (RTLS) abort.

- 21:57:26 GMT @ T+02:52 – 2 engine Istres. Discovery can now reach the Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL) site in Istres in the case of a single engine failure.

- 21:57:15 GMT @ T+02:41 – 2 engine Zaragoza. Discovery can now reach the TAL site in Zaragoza in the case of a single engine failure.

- 21:57:10 GMT @ T+02:36 – 2 engine Moron. Discovery can now reach the TAL site in Moron in the case of a single engine failure.

- 21:56:47 GMT @ T+02:13 – Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) assist.

- 21:56:37 GMT @ T+02:03 – Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) separation. Discovery is at the altitude of 45.08 km, 40.87 km down range from the KSC, traveling at 5 838.70 km/h (Mach 4).

SRB SEP

- 21:54:35 GMT @ T+01:01 – Max-Q (the point of the greatest dynamic pressure).

- 21:54:27 GMT @ T+00:53 –Throttle up back to 104.5% engine power level.

- 21:54:22 GMT @ T+00:48 – Mach 1.

- 21:54:14 GMT @ T+00:40 – Throttle down from 104.5% to 72.0% engine power level at Mach 0.9.

- 21:53:52 GMT @ T+00:18 – Roll maneuver finished.

- 21:53:45 GMT @ T+00:11 – Start the roll program.

- 21:53:34 GMT @ T-00:00 – Lift-off. Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) ignition and lift-off of the Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-133 (ISS assembly flight 20A) mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

Lift-off of Space Shuttle Discovery

- 21:50:20 GMT @ T-00:06.6 (and 06.48, 06.36) – The three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) start.

Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) start

- 21:50:18 GMT @ T-00:09 – The hydrogen burn-off system begins to eliminate free hydrogen exhausted into the main engine nozzles during the start sequence to prevent small, but potentially dangerous, explosions when the main engines ignite.

The hydrogen burn-off system begins to eliminate free hydrogen

- 21:50:12 T-00:15 – The Sound Suppression Water System has been activated to protect Discovery and the launch pad from acoustical energy and rocket exhaust reflected from the flame trench and Mobile Launcher Platform during launch.

- 21:49:56 GMT @ T-00:31 – Auto-sequence start. Discovery’s on-board computers have primary control of all vehicle’s critical functions.

- 21:45:32 GMT: Terminate LO2 replenish
- 21:48: GMT: T-5 minutes and counting

T-4 minutes and 59 seconds and counting

- 21:45:27 GMT: Launch window opens, T-5 minutes and holding (the launch window expires at 21:55:27 GMT)

- 21:41:27 GMT: The countdown clock resumes at T-9min and counting.

T-8 minuts and 59 seconds and counting

- 21:21 GMT: NASA Test Director (NTD) launch status verification.
- 20:56 GMT: Begin final built-in hold (T-minus 9m)

- 20:45 GMT: Resume countdown (T-minus 20m)
- 20:35 GMT: Begin 10-minute built-in hold (T-minus 20m)

- 19:45 GMT: Shuttle Discovery’s hatch has been closed and latched for flight, the six STS-133 astronauts are strapped into their seats.

- 19:20 GMT: Astronaut comm checks.

- 18:00 GMT: The STS-133 crew leaves the crew quarters at the Operations and Checkout Building and board the Astrovan to head to the Pad 39A.

- 17:55 GMT: Resume countdown (T-minus 3 hours).

T-3 hours and holding

- 15:25 GMT: The shuttle tanking went into a stable replenish and the countdown entered a 2.5 hour long inbuilt hold at T-3 hours. During the hold the closeout crew will proceed to white room at the pad and the astronauts will suit up.

- 15:20 GMT: The liquid hydrogen tanking has reached 98% and will transition from fast-full to top-off at 2700 l per minute.

- 13:15 GMT: Liquid oxygen tanking changes to fast-fill mode at almost 6,000 l per minute. Liquid hydrogen is also in fast-fill phase adding almost 32,000 liters every minute into the external tank (ET).

- 13:05 GMT: Launch teams began liquid oxygen tanking in the slow-fill phase adding 1,200 liters every minute.

- 12:25 (Feb. 24) GMT: Fueling of the External Tank began with liquid hydrogen (at 20K) in the slow-fill mode. Liquid oxygen (at 90.188 K) will follow at 13:05 GMT. Resume countdown (T-minus 6 hours)

- 10:13 GMT: The crew wakes up in the crew quarters inside the Operations & Checkout Building at KSC
- 10:25 GMT: Begin 2-hour built-in hold (T-minus 6 hours)
- 05:25 (Feb. 24) GMT: Resume countdown at T-11 hours

The Mission Click at T-minus 11 hours and holding with Launch Pad 39-A and Space Shuttle Discovery in the background

February 24, 2011 at 21:53:34 UTC, NASA launched the Space Shuttle Discovery on its last journey into space after a series of 5 scrubs in November 2010. Six crew members of STS-133 (ISS assembly flight ULF5), commanded by NASA astronaut and Air Force officer Steven W. Lindsey (STS-87, STS-95, STS-104, STS-121), will stay in space 10 days and 19 hours and land at the Kennedy Space Center on 7 March 2011 at approximately 16:50 UTC. Mission Specialists Benjamin Alvin Drew, Jr. (STS-118) and Steve Bowen (STS-126, STS-132) will spend a total of 13.0 hours outside the station on flight days 5 and 7 (Bowen replaced astronaut Tim Kopra, who was injured in a bicycle accident in January). Discovery will spend two days heading toward its rendezvous with the International Space Station. On the second day of the flight, the crew will perform the standard scan of the shuttle’s thermal protection system using the orbiter boom sensor system attached to the end of Discovery’s robotic arm. On the third day of the flight, Discovery will approach and dock with the space station.

Lift-off of Space Shuttle Discovery

The mission will transport the Permanent Multipurpose Module Leonardo and the third of four ExPRESS Logistics Carriers (ELC4) to the ISS. The Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) is a large, reusable pressurized element, carried in the space shuttle’s cargo bay, originally used to ferry cargo back and forth to the station. For STS-133, the PMM, known as Leonardo, was modified to become a permanent module attached to the International Space Station. Once in orbit, the PMM will offer 70 additional cubic meters of pressurized volume for storage and for scientific use. The module is carried in the cargo bay of Discovery and will be connected to the Unity node on the station.

Attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits, these six astronauts take a break from training to pose for the STS-133 crew portrait. Pictured are NASA astronauts Steve Lindsey (center right) and Eric Boe (center left), commander and pilot, respectively; along with astronauts (from the left) Alvin Drew, Nicole Stott, Michael Barratt and Steve Bowen, all mission specialists. - Credit: NASA

Almost 200 people from 15 countries have visited the International Space Station, but so far the orbiting complex has only ever had human crew members – until now. Robonaut 2, the latest generation of the Robonaut astronaut helpers, is set to launch to the space station aboard space shuttle Discovery on the STS-133 mission. It will be the first humanoid robot in space, and although its primary job for now is teaching engineers how dexterous robots behave in space, the hope is that through upgrades and advancements, it could one day venture outside the station to help spacewalkers make repairs or additions to the station or perform scientific work.

R2 inside the EMI Chamber at Johnson Space Center waiting to move on to the next set of environmental tests. Photographer: Kris Kehe

R2, as the robot is called, will launch inside the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module. Once R2 is unpacked – likely several months after it arrives – it will initially be operated inside the Destiny laboratory for operational testing, but over time, both its territory and its applications could expand. There are no plans to return R2 to Earth.

A Shuttle Back Flip at the Space Station - Credit: ISS Expedition 11 Crew, STS-114 Crew, NASA

NASA began a tradition of playing music to astronauts during the Gemini program, which was first used to wake up a flight crew during Apollo 15. Each track is specially chosen, often by their families, and usually has a special meaning to an individual member of the crew, or is applicable to their daily activities. NASA opened the selection process to the public for the first time for STS-133. The public was invited to vote on two songs used to wake up astronauts on previous missions to wake up the STS-133 crew.

Space Shuttle Discovery as it approaches the International Space Station (ISS) during the STS-105 mission. Visible in the payload bay of Discovery are the Multipurpose Logistics Module (MPLM) Leonardo at right, which stores various supplies and experiments to be transferred into the ISS; at center, the Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC) which carries the Early Ammonia Servicer (EAS); and two Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) containers at left. - Credit: NASA

On flight day 5, Drew and Bowen will install a power extension cable between the Unity and Tranquility nodes to provide a contingency power source. The spacewalkers will move a failed ammonia pump module that was replaced in August 2010 from an attachment bracket to a stowage platform adjacent to the Quest airlock. Drew and Bowen will install hardware under a camera on the truss that will tilt the camera to provide clearance for a spare part to be installed on a future mission. They next will replace a guide for the rail cart system used for moving cargo along the truss. The guides were removed when the astronauts were performing work on the station’s starboard Solar Alpha Rotary Joint, which rotates the solar arrays to track the sun.

On flight day 7, Drew will remove thermal insulation from a platform while Bowen swaps out an attachment bracket on the Columbus module. Bowen then will install a camera assembly on the Dextre robot and remove insulation from Dextre’s electronics platform. Drew will install a light on a cargo cart and repair some dislodged thermal insulation from a valve on the truss then remove other insulation from Tranquility. The final task will be to “fill” a special bottle with space for a Japanese education payload. The bottle will be part of a museum exhibit for public viewing.

Time-lapse photography captures space shuttle Discovery's path to orbit. Liftoff from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida was at 6:21 a.m. EDT April 5 on the STS-131 mission. The seven-member crew will deliver the multi-purpose logistics module Leonardo, filled with supplies, a new crew sleeping quarters and science racks that will be transferred to the International Space Station's laboratories. - Credit: NASA/Ben Cooper

Discovery was NASA’s third space shuttle orbiter to join the fleet at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Discovery also is known inside the space agency by its designation Orbiter Vehicle-103, or OV-103. Construction of Discovery began on Aug. 27, 1979 and was completed four years later. Discovery rolled out of the assembly plant building in Palmdale, California, October 1983 and was first launched Aug. 30, 1984 (STS-41D).

Discovery flew its maiden voyage on Aug. 30, 1984, on the STS-41D mission. Later missions included NASA’s return to flight after the loss of Challenger (September 1988) and Columbia (July 2005), launch of the Hubble Space Telescope in April 1990, the final Shuttle/Mir docking mission in June 1998 and Senator John Glenn’s shuttle flight in October 1998.

When first flown, Discovery became the third operational orbiter, and it currently is the oldest orbiter in service. It was named after two historic, Earth-bound exploring ships of the past. One was a vessel used by Henry Hudson in the early 1600s to explore the Hudson Bay and search for a northwest passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The other was one of two ships used by the British explorer James Cook in the 1770s. Cook’s voyages in the South Pacific led to the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands. Another of his ships was the Endeavour, the namesake of NASA’s newest shuttle.

After STS-133 Discovery will be the first space shuttle to retire from NASA’s fleet, having flown in space 39 times – more than any other shuttle.

Discovery’s numbers prior to STS-133:

Discovery at Night - Xenon lights illuminate space shuttle Discovery on Launch Pad 39A following the retraction of the rotating service structure - Credit: NASA/Troy Cryder

Update 3: Launch photo in HD

Space shuttle Atlantis lifted off from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on the STS-132 mission to the International Space Station at 18:20 UTC on May 14 - Credit: NASA

Lift-off of Space Shuttle Atlantis - Credit: NASA/KSC

Update 2: Visit the STS-132 gallery to see a great collection of Atlantis launch photos.

Update 1: Check out the launch timeline for launch milestones and more photos.

May 14, 2010 at 18:20:09 UTC, NASA successfully launched the Space Shuttle Atlantis on its 32nd  flight – the 34th shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS). STS-132 is the final scheduled flight for Atlantis. It is also the first US spaceflight since STS-97 to only have veteran astronauts (astronauts who have flown at least one previous mission) on board. Six crew members of STS-132, commanded by NASA astronaut and US Navy captain Kenneth “Hock” Todd Ham (STS-124), will stay in space 11 Days 18 Hours 23 Minutes and land at the Kennedy Space Center on May 26 12:44 (UTC time). Mission Specialists Garrett Reisman (STS-123, Expedition 16, Expedition 17, STS-124), Michael Good (STS-125) and Steve Bowen (STS-126) will spend a total of 19.5 hours outside the station on flight days 4, 6 and 8.

Lift-off of Space Shuttle Atlantis on its last scheduled flight into space - Credit: NASA TV

Launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis on the STS-132 mission to the International Space Station - Credit: NASA TV

Atlantis’ 12-day mission will deliver the Russian-built Mini Research Module-1 that will provide additional storage space and a new docking port for Russian Soyuz and Progress spacecraft. MRM-1, also known as Rassvet (dawn in Russian), will be permanently attached to the bottom port of the station’s Zarya module. MRM-1 will carry important hardware on its exterior including a radiator, airlock and a European robotic arm. Atlantis also will deliver additional station hardware stored inside a cargo carrier.

Attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits, these six astronauts take a break from training to pose for the STS-132 crew portrait. Pictured clockwise are NASA astronauts Ken Ham (bottom), commander; Garrett Reisman and Michael Good, both mission specialists; Tony Antonelli, pilot; Piers Sellers and Steve Bowen both mission specialists - Credit: NASA

Three spacewalks are planned to stage spare components outside the station. On flight day 4, Reisman and Bowen will install a spare space-to-ground Ku-band antenna on the station’s truss, or backbone. Then they will install a new tool platform on Dextre. The spacewalkers will break the torque on bolts holding batteries in place on the truss, in preparation for their removal and replacement on the second and third spacewalks. Battery preparation work was deferred from STS-131 to this flight.

Astronaut Garrett Reisman, Expedition 16 flight engineer, participates in the STS-123 mission’s first scheduled session of extravehicular activity as construction and maintenance continue on the International Space Station - Credit: NASA

On flight day 6, Bowen and Good will remove and replace three of the six batteries on the port truss to store electricity from the solar arrays on that truss. The used batteries will be installed on the cargo carrier for return to Earth on Atlantis. On flight day 8, Good and Reisman will install the final three new batteries on the truss and put the old batteries on the carrier. Next, if time permits, they will retrieve a grapple fixture from Atlantis’ payload bay and bring it inside the station for use as a spare.

At NASA Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, space shuttle Atlantis is revealed Thursday evening after retraction of the pad's rotating service structure - Credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

A compact disk containing the digital copies of all entries submitted to NASA’s Space Shuttle Program Commemorative Patch Contest will be flown on STS-132. The contest was held to mark the end of the shuttle era. The winning patch was designed by Blake Dumesnil of Hamilton Sundstrand, Johnson Space Center. A panel of NASA judges selected the winning patch from 85 entries submitted by NASA employees and contractors.

Mr. Blake Dumesnil’s design as the winner in the Space Shuttle Program Commemorative Patch Contest

During its 32 missions and more than 25 years of service  Space Shuttle Atlantis has carried more than 200 astronauts and flown more than 100 million miles. Atlantis lifted off on its maiden voyage on October 3, 1985, on mission 51-J. Later missions included the launch of the Magellan probe to Venus on STS-30 in May 1989, Galileo interplanetary probe to Jupiter on STS-34 in October 1989, the first shuttle docking to the Mir Space Station on STS-71 in June 1995 and the final Hubble servicing mission on STS-125 in May 2009.

Although STS-132 is the last scheduled flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis, the orbiter will be prepared for the possibility of a STS-335 Launch On Need (LON) mission, in the unlikely event that STS-134 suffers severe damage requiring a crew rescue. If LON is not required, Atlantis, her external tank, and her two solid rocket boosters will have been prepared to nearly flight-ready status but will not be used for flight. The potential STS-135 would use this prepared and paid-for hardware to fly a full operational mission. Mission planners anticipate STS-135 would fly four crew members and a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch could occur after STS-134, in early 2011. Because STS-135 would not have its own shuttle-based LON mission, two Russian Soyuz spacecraft would be used in the event a crew rescue is needed.

The milestones of STS-132 Space Shuttle Atlantis launch (reverse order) – See the mission details and more photos in my STS-132 Space Shuttle Atlantis post

~ 19:29:54 GMT @ T+09:45 – Nominal MECO, OMS-1 not required. With a direct insertion ascent, the main engines are burned slightly longer to achieve the desired apogee altitude, such that an OMS-1 maneuver (which would supply the additional thrust needed to reach orbit) is not required.

External Tank (ET) separation - Credit: NASA TV

- 19:28:42 GMT @ T+08:33 – External Tank (ET) separation.

External Tank (ET) separation - Credit: NASA TV

- 19:28:38 GMT @ T+08:29 – Zero Thrust.

- 19:28:32 GMT @ T+08:23 – Main Engine Cut-off (MECO). Atlantis has reach the planned orbit and is schedule to dock with the International Space Station on Flight Day 3.

Main Engine Cut-off (MECO) - Credit: NASA TV

- 19:27:49 GMT @ T+07:40 - Negative Istres.

- 19:27:28 GMT @ T+07:19 - Negative Moron.

- 19:26:36 GMT @ T+06:27 – Press to MECO and Single Engine Zaragoza 104 – Atlantis can now reach planned orbit in case of a single SSME failure and the Zaragoza TAL site on a single engine at 104.5% throttle.

- 19:25:37 GMT @ T+05:28 – Single Engine OPS-3 – Atlantis could now reach the designated TAL site with a single engine at Full Power Level (FPL), i.e 109% throttle, should two of the SSME‘s fail (the OPS-3 software mode will be used for re-entry) – Prior to this point, the loss of two engines requires contingency abort procedures and OPS 6 software.

- 19:24:51 GMT @ T+04:42 – Press to ATO select Zaragoza – Atlantis could now reach a safe orbit (circular / 194.5 km) with two Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) throttled at Typical Mission Power Level (104.5%) in case of a single SSME failure. Should one of the engines fail the crew could execute the Abort To Orbit (ATO) maneuver (in case of TAL abort, the landing facility in Zaragoza would be used).

- 19:24:04 GMT @ T+03:55 – Negative Return – Atlantis has used too much fuel and is traveling too fast (8,526 km/h), too high (87.7 km) and is too far (147.6 km) to return to the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for a potential Return To Launch Site (RTLS) abort.

- 19:23:52 GMT @ T+02:43 – 2 engine Istres. Atlantis can now reach the Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL) site in Istres in the case of a single engine failure.

- 19:22:42 GMT @ T+02:33 – 2 engine Zaragoza. Atlantis can now reach the TAL site in Zaragoza in the case of a single engine failure.

- 19:22:38 GMT @ T+02:29 – 2 engine Moron. Atlantis can now reach the TAL site in Moron in the case of a single engine failure.

- 19:22:23 GMT @ T+02:14 – Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) assist.

- 19:22:13 GMT @ T+02:04 – Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) separation. Atlantis is at the altitude of 47.18 km, 44.57 km down range from the KSC, traveling at 5 022.7 km/h (Mach 4.1).

Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) separation - Credit: NASA TV

- 19:21:09 GMT @ T+01:00 – Max-Q (the point of the greatest dynamic pressure).

- 19:20:54 GMT @ T+00:45 –Throttle up back to 104.5% engine power level.

- 19:20:52 GMT @ T+00:43 – Mach 1.

- 19:20:42 GMT @ T+00:33 – Throttle down from 104.5% to 72.0% engine power level at Mach 0.9.

- 19:20:27 GMT @ T+00:18 – Roll maneuver finished.

- 19:20:20 GMT @ T+00:11 – Start the roll program.

Lift-off of Space Shuttle Atlantis on its last scheduled flight into space - Credit: NASA TV

- 19:20:09 GMT @ T-00:00 – Lift-off. Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) ignition and lift-off of the Space Shuttle Atlantis on the STS-132 (ISS assembly flight ULF4) mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

The three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) ignite - Credit: NASA TV

- 19:20:02 GMT @ T-00:06.6 (and 06.48, 06.36) – The three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) start.

The hydrogen burn-off system begins to eliminate free hydrogen - Credit: NASA TV

- 19:20:00 GMT @ T-00:09 – The hydrogen burn-off system begins to eliminate free hydrogen exhausted into the main engine nozzles during the start sequence to prevent small, but potentially dangerous, explosions when the main engines ignite.

- 19:19:54 GMT @ T-00:15 – The Sound Suppression Water System has been activated to protect Atlantis and the launch pad from acoustical energy and rocket exhaust reflected from the flame trench and Mobile Launcher Platform during launch.

- 19:19:38 GMT: @ T-00:31 – Auto-sequence start. Atlantis’ on-board computers have primary control of all vehicle’s critical functions.

- 19:18:09 GMT: Crew members close and lock their visors.

- 19:15:09 GMT: Start auxiliary power units.

- 19:12:39 GMT: Retract orbiter access arm.

T-9 minutes and counting, all systems are Go for launch - Credit: NASA TV

- 19:11:09 GMT: The countdown clock resumes at T-9min and counting.

The countdown clock holds at T-20 minutes - Credit: NASA TV

- 17:06 GMT: The countdown clock holds at T-20 minutes.

The Closeout Crew closes Atlantis' hatch - Credit: NASA TV

- Shuttle Atlantis’ hatch has been closed and latched for flight, the six STS-132 astronauts are strapped into their seats.

The countdown clock stops at T-3hr for a 2 and half hour planned hold - Credit: NASA

- The countdown clock resumes at T-3hr and counting.

The Astrovan heading to Launch Pad 39A with Atlantis' astronauts - Credit: NASA/Rick Fischer

- The STS-132 crew leaves the crew quarters at the Operations and Checkout Building and board the Astrovan to head to the Pad 39A.

The STS-132 astronauts walk out of NASA Kennedy Space Center's Operations and Checkout Building, ready to ride to Launch Pad 39A - Credit: NASA

- Final inspection team is on the pad looking for ice & frost buildup on the External Tank.

Final Inspection Team (FIT) at the Pad checking for Ice/frost buildup on fuel tank or other debris hazards - Credit: NASA TV

- 12:54 GMT: The shuttle tanking went into a stable replenish and the countdown entered a 2.5 hour long inbuilt hold at T-3 hours. Count to pick up at 15:24 GMT

- The liquid hydrogen tanking has reached 98% and will transition from fast-full to top-off at 2700 l per minute.

- Liquid oxygen tanking changes to fast-fill mode at almost 6,000 l per minute. Liquid hydrogen is also in fast-fill phase adding almost 32,000 liters every minute into the external tank (ET).

- Launch teams began liquid oxygen tanking in the slow-fill phase adding 1,200 liters every minute.

- 10:55 GMT: Fueling of the External Tank began with liquid hydrogen (at 20K) started in the slow-fill mode. Liquid oxygen (at 90.188 K) will follow at 11:25 GMT.

The milestones of STS-131 Space Shuttle Discovery launch (reverse order):

~ 10:31:10 GMT @ T+09:45 – Nominal MECO, OMS-1 not required. With a direct insertion ascent, the main engines are burned slightly longer to achieve the desired apogee altitude, such that an OMS-1 maneuver (which would supply the additional thrust needed to reach orbit) is not required.

- 10:30:00 GMT @ T+08:35 – External Tank (ET) separation.

External Tank Separation - Credit: NASA TV

- 10:29:55 MT @ T+08:30 – Zero Thrust.

- 10:29:49 GMT @ T+08:24 – Main Engine Cut-off (MECO). Discovery has reach the planned orbit and is schedule to dock with the International Space Station on Flight Day 3 (April 7).

- 10:29:07 GMT @ T+07:42 - Negative Istres.

- 10:28:45 GMT @ T+07:20 - Negative Moron.

- 10:27:40 GMT @ T+06:15 – Press to MECO and Single Engine Zaragoza 104 – Discovery can now reach planned orbit in case of a single SSME failure and the Zaragoza TAL site on a single engine at 104.5% throttle.

- 10:27:26 GMT @ T+06:01 – Single Engine OPS-3 Zaragoza – Discovery could now reach the designated TAL site with a single engine at Full Power Level (FPL), i.e 109% throttle, should two of the SSME‘s fail (the OPS-3 software mode will be used for re-entry) – Prior to this point, the loss of two engines requires contingency abort procedures and OPS 6 software.

- 10:27:12 GMT @ T+05:47 – Roll to heads up.

- 10:26:36 GMT @ T+05:11 – Press to ATO select Zaragoza – Discovery could now reach a safe orbit (circular / 194.5 km) with two Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) throttled at Typical Mission Power Level (104.5%) in case of a single SSME failure. Should one of the engines fail the crew could execute the Abort To Orbit (ATO) maneuver (in case of TAL abort, the landing facility in Zaragoza would be used).

- 10:25:12 GMT @ T+03:47 – Negative Return – Discovery has used too much fuel and is traveling too fast (8 779 km/h), too high (96 km) and is too far (200 km) to return to the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for a potential Return To Launch Site (RTLS) abort.

- 10:24:17 GMT @ T+02:52 – 2 engine Istres. Discovery can now reach the Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL) site in Istres in the case of a single engine failure.

- 10:24:06 GMT @ T+02:41 – 2 engine Zaragoza. Discovery can now reach the TAL site in Zaragoza in the case of a single engine failure.

- 10:24:00 GMT @ T+02:35 – 2 engine Moron. Discovery can now reach the TAL site in Moron in the case of a single engine failure.

- 10:23:40 GMT @ T+02:15 – Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) assist (1m 44 seconds).

- 10:23:30: GMT @ T+02:05 – Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) separation. Discovery is at the altitude of 47.18 km, 44.57 km down range from the KSC, traveling at 5 870.9 km/h (Mach 4).

Solid Rocket Booster Separation - Credit: NASA TV

- 10:22:24 GMT @ T+00:59 – Max-Q (the point of the greatest dynamic pressure).

- 10:22:17 GMT @ T+00:52 –Throttle up back to 104.5% engine power level.

- 10:22:10 GMT @ T+00:45 – Mach 1.

- 10:22:04 GMT @ T+00:39 – Throttle down from 104.5% to 72.0% engine power level at Mach 0.9.

- 10:21:44 GMT @ T+00:19 – Roll maneuver finished.

- 10:21:35 GMT @ T+00:10 – Start the roll program.

- 10:21:25 GMT @ T-00:00 – Lift-off. Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) ignition and lift-off of the Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-131 (ISS assembly flight 20A) mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

Lift-off of Space Shuttle Discovery - Credit: NASA TV

- 10:21:18 GMT @ T-00:06.6 (and 06.48, 06.36) – The three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) start.

Space Shuttle Main Engines ignite - Credit: NASA TV

- 10:21:14 GMT @ T-00:09 – The hydrogen burn-off system begins to eliminate free hydrogen exhausted into the main engine nozzles during the start sequence to prevent small, but potentially dangerous, explosions when the main engines ignite.

The hydrogen burn-off system is activated - Credit: NASA TV

- 10:21:10 GMT @ T-00:15 – The Sound Suppression Water System has been activated to protect Discovery and the launch pad from acoustical energy and rocket exhaust reflected from the flame trench and Mobile Launcher Platform during launch.

- 10:20:54 GMT @ T-00:31 – Auto-sequence start. Discovery’s on-board computers have primary control of all vehicle’s critical functions.

- 10:12:25 GMT: The countdown clock resumes at T-9min and counting.

T-9 minutes and counting - Credit: NASA TV

- 08:21 GMT: Shuttle Discovery’s hatch has been closed and latched for flight, the six STS-131 astronauts are strapped into their seats.

- The countdown clock resumes at T-3hr and counting.

- The STS-131 crew leaves the crew quarters at the Operations and Checkout Building and boards the Astrovan to head to the Pad 39A.

- Final inspection team is on the pad looking for ice & frost buildup on the External Tank.

- [04:21] GMT: The shuttle tanking went into a stable replenish and the countdown entered a 2.5 hour long inbuilt hold at T-3 hours.

- The liquid hydrogen tanking has reached 98% and will transition from fast-full to top-off at 2700 l per minute.

- Liquid oxygen tanking changes to fast-fill mode at almost 6,000 l per minute. Liquid hydrogen is also in fast-fill phase adding almost 32,000 liters every minute into the external tank (ET).

- Launch teams began liquid oxygen tanking in the slow-fill phase adding 1,200 liters every minute.

- 01:28 (April 05) GMT: Fueling of the External Tank began with liquid hydrogen (at 20K) started in the slow-fill mode. Liquid oxygen (at 90.188 K) will follow at ~02:00 GMT. The 3-hr fuel+oxidizer loading process for Discovery’s 3 main engines will provide the shuttle with fuel for its 8 1/2 min ride to orbit.

Update 3: Long exposure of the launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour by Lenny Maiorani:

Long exposure of the launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour - Credit: Lenny Maiorani

Update 2: Visit the Space Shuttle Gallery for more launch photos.

Update 1: Launch HD Photos

Space shuttle Endeavour lifts off from the Launch Pad 39A on the last planned night launch of the space shuttle program - Credit: collectSPACE/Robert Pearlman

Take off of the Space Shuttle Endeavour on the STS-130 mission to the International Space Station - Credit: NASA

February 8, 2010 at 09:14:07 UTC, NASA successfully launched the Space Shuttle Endeavour on its 24th mission – the 11th to the International Space Station (ISS). Six crew members of STS-130, commanded by NASA astronaut George D. Zamka (STS-120), will stay in space 12 Days 18 Hours 37 Minutes and land at the Kennedy Space Center on February 21, 2010 (UTC time). Mission specialists Robert Behnken and Nicholas Patrick will combine for 19.5 hours during 3 planed spacewalks (EVA). The STS-130 mission kicks off the final year of shuttle flights, with five missions planned through September (STS-133).

Lift-off of the Space Shuttle Endeavour on the STS-130 mission to the International Space Station

Take off of the Space Shuttle Endeavour on the STS-130 mission to the International Space Station - Credit: NASA TV

Endeavour will arrive at the orbiting complex in the early morning hours Wednesday, February 10. Once docked, hatches will be opened between the two spacecraft and a combined crew of 11 will begin eight days of work. Endeavour’s crew will be working with Expedition 22 commander NASA astronaut Jeff Williams and flight engineers cosmonaut Max Suraev, NASA astronaut T.J. Creamer and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Soichi Noguchi. Noguchi and Robinson flew together on the STS-114 space shuttle return-to-flight mission in 2005.

Set against the background of a cloud covered Earth, the International Space Station is featured in this image photographed by an STS-129 crew member on Atlantis soon after the station and shuttle began their post-undocking relative separation - Credit: NASA

STS-130 will be the first spaceflight for the shuttle pilot Terry Virts. Mission Specialist Kathryn Hire flew the STS-90 Neurolab mission spending 15 days in space. STS-130 will be the second spaceflight also for Nicholas Patrick (STS-116) and Robert Behnken (STS-123). Veteran astronaut Stephen Robinson flew on STS-85 in 1997, STS-95 in 1998 and STS-114 in 2005. He has logged more than 831 hours in space, including more than 20 hours of spacewalking time. He has also held various technical assignments within the Astronaut Office including testing space shuttle control software in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory and helping to develop the space station robot arm.

The STS-130 crew is commanded by George Zamka (seated, right) and piloted by Terry Virts (seated, left). Standing from the left are mission specialists Nicholas Patrick, Robert Behnken, Kathryn Hire and Stephen Robinson

The mission will deliver and assemble the last US module onto the International Space Station. Node 3, known as Tranquility, will provide additional room for crew members and many of the space station’s life support and environmental control systems. Attached to the node is a cupola, which is a robotic control station with six windows around its sides and another in the center that will provide a panoramic view of Earth, celestial objects and visiting spacecraft.

The interior of the International Space Station's Node 3, named Tranquility, is seen for the last time on Earth before its hatch is shut - NASA/Jim Grossmann

Tucked away inside Tranquility and Endeavour’s mid-deck will be a ton of equipment, supplies and experiments for the space station. Included are a new distillation assembly and fluid control pump assembly for the urine processing assembly, an external filter assembly for the water processing assembly, a new bed for the carbon dioxide removal assembly, laptop computers, crew provisions, health care supplies, spacewalk tools and others.

At Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the crew of space shuttle Endeavour's STS-130 mission posed for a group portrait in front of Endeavour's external tank and one of its solid rocket boosters at the conclusion of the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, the dress rehearsal for their launch. From left are Robert Behnken, Commander George Zamka, pilot Terry Virts, Kathryn Hire, Nicholas Patrick and Stephen Robinson - Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

The next mission to the ISS will be STS-131 (ISS assembly flight 19A) planned to launch on at 18:34 UTC on March 18, 2010. The primary payload of STS-131 is scheduled to be the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Raffaello.

Endeavour last flight is scheduled for July 29, 2010. The STS-134 mission (assembly flight ULF6) will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and the third ExPRESS Logistics Carrier to the to the station.

The space shuttle Endeavour is seen after the rotating service structure is rolled back on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010 at Launch Pad 39A of the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida - Credit: NASA/Bill Ingals

Update 1: See the mission details and more photos in my STS-130 Space Shuttle Endeavour post.

The milestones of STS-130 Space Shuttle Endeavour launch (reverse order):

~ 04:23:52 GMT @ T+09:45 – Nominal MECO, OMS-1 not required. With a direct insertion ascent, the main engines are burned slightly longer to achieve the desired apogee altitude, such that an OMS-1 maneuver (which would supply the additional thrust needed to reach orbit) is not required.

- 04:22:40 GMT @ T+08:33 – External Tank (ET) separation.

The External Tank (ET) separates from the orbiter after the Main Engine Cut-Off (MECO) - Credit: NASA TV

- 04:22:39 GMT @ T+08:32 – Zero Thrust.

- 04:22:30 GMT @ T+08:23 -  Main Engine Cut-off (MECO). Endeavour has reach the planned orbit and is schedule to dock with the International Space Station on Flight Day 3.

- 04:21:49 GMT @ T+07:42 -  Negative Istres.

- 04:21:28 GMT @ T+07:21 -  Negative Moron.

- 04:21:15 GMT @ T+07:08 - Single Engine Press. Endeavour can reach the planned orbit on a single SSME should two of the engines fail.

- 04:20:47 GMT @ T+06:40 – Nominal Shutdown, Go for the plus X, Go for the pitch maneuver. After the External Tank (ET) separation (SEP) the orbiter’s Reaction Control System (RCS) will execute a negative Z (in the direction up through the roof) translation maneuver to move the orbiter away from the ET. The “go for the pitch” refers to the ET Photo maneuver, which is a pitch around of the orbiter that allows the crew to take pictures of the tank out of the overhead windows.

- 04:20:21 GMT @ T+06:14 – Press to MECO and Single Engine Zaragoza 104 – Endeavour can now reach planned orbit in case of a single SSME failure and the Zaragoza TAL site on a single engine at 104.5% throttle.

- 04:19:37 GMT @ T+05:30 – Single Engine OPS-3 – Endeavour could now reach the designated TAL site with a single engine at Full Power Level (FPL), i.e 109% throttle, should two of the SSME‘s fail (the OPS-3 software mode will be used for re-entry) – Prior to this point, the loss of two engines requires contingency abort procedures and OPS 6 software.

- 04:19:18 GMT @ T+05:11 – Press to ATO select Zaragoza – Endeavour could now reach a safe orbit (circular / 194.5 km) with two Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) throttled at Typical Mission Power Level (104.5%) in case of a single SSME failure. Should one of the engines fail the crew could execute the Abort To Orbit (ATO) maneuver (in case of TAL abort, the landing facility in Zaragoza would be used).

- 04:17:59 GMT @ T+03:52 – Negative Return – Endeavour has used too much fuel and is traveling too fast (7,795 km/h), too high (96 km) and is too far (200 km) to return to the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for a potential Return To Launch Site (RTLS) abort.

- 04:17:01 GMT @ T+02:54 – 2 engine Istres. Endeavour can now reach the Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL) site in Istres in the case of a single engine failure.

- 04:16:50 GMT @ T+02:43 – 2 engine Zaragoza. Endeavour can now reach the TAL site in Zaragoza in the case of a single engine failure.

- 04:16:45 GMT @ T+02:38 – 2 engine Moron. Endeavour can now reach the TAL site in Moron in the case of a single engine failure.

- 04:16:22 GMT @ T+02:15 – Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) assist.

- 04:16:12 GMT @ T+02:05 – Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) separation. Endeavour is at the altitude of 47.18 km, 44.57 km down range from the KSC, traveling at 4 794.4 km/h (Mach 4).

Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) separation - Credit: NASA TV

- 04:15:04 GMT @ T+00:54 –Throttle up back to 104.5% engine power level.

- 04:14:56 GMT @ T+00:49 – Max-Q (the point of the greatest dynamic pressure).

- 04:14:50 GMT @ T+00:43 – Mach 1.

- 04:14:46 GMT @ T+00:39 – Throttle down from 104.5% to 72.0% engine power level at Mach 0.9.

Endeavour's engines are throttling down as the orbiter passes through the area of maximum pressure on the vehicle - Credit: NASA TV

- 04:14:26 GMT @ T+00:19 – Roll maneuver finished.

- 04:14:17 GMT @ T+00:10 – Start the roll program.

- 04:14:07 GMT @ T-00:00 – Lift-off. Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) ignition and lift-off of the Space Shuttle Endeavour on the STS-130 (ISS assembly flight 20A) mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

Lift-off of Space Shuttle Endeavour from Launch Pad 39A - Credit: NASA TV

- 04:14:00 GMT @ T-00:06.6 (and 06.48, 06.36) – The three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) start.

The Space Shuttle Main Engines ignite - Credit: NASA TV

- 04:13:58 GMT @ T-00:09 – The hydrogen burn-off system begins to eliminate free hydrogen exhausted into the main engine nozzles during the start sequence to prevent small, but potentially dangerous, explosions when the main engines ignite.

The hydrogen burn-off system is activated - Credit: NASA TV

- 04:13:52 GMT @ T-00:15 – The Sound Suppression Water System has been activated to protect Endeavour and the launch pad from acoustical energy and rocket exhaust reflected from the flame trench and Mobile Launcher Platform during launch.

- 04:13:36 GMT @ T-00:31 – Auto-sequence start. Endeavour’s on-board computers have primary control of all vehicle’s critical functions.

- 04:05:07 GMT: The countdown clock resumes at T-9min and counting.

- Shuttle Endeavour’s hatch has been closed and latched for flight, the six STS-130 astronauts are strapped into their seats.

- The countdown clock resumes at T-3hr and counting.

- The STS-130 crew leaves the crew quarters at the Operations and Checkout Building and board the Astrovan to head to the Pad 39A.

The STS-130 crew shortly before boarding the Astrovan - Credit: Jen Scheer

-  Final inspection team is on the pad looking for ice & frost buildup on the External Tank.

- 02:54 GMT: The shuttle tanking went into a stable replenish and the countdown entered a 2.5 hour long inbuilt hold at T-3 hours.

- The liquid hydrogen tanking has reached 98% and will transition from fast-full to top-off at 2700 l per minute.

-  Liquid oxygen tanking changes to fast-fill mode at almost 6,000 l per minute. Liquid hydrogen is also in fast-fill phase adding almost 32,000 liters every minute into the external tank (ET).

-  Launch teams began liquid oxygen tanking in the slow-fill phase adding 1,200 liters every minute.

- 23:50 (Feb. 07) GMT: Fueling of the External Tank began with liquid hydrogen (at 20K) started in the slow-fill mode. Liquid oxygen (at 90.188 K) will follow at 00:20 GMT.

The main culprit today was the range weather, i.e. low clouds over the launch page. In addition to the launch site weather violations, the Mission Control in Houston also called a No-Go due to unacceptable weather forecast for a possible Return To Launch Site (RTLS) abort.

The teams will execute a 24 hour scrub turnaround procedure and attempt another launch tomorrow. The launch window tomorrow will open at 09:09:02 UTC and closes at 09:19:02 UTC with the optimal launch time at 09:14:07 UTC.

The T-9 min in-built starts - Photo Credit: NASA TV/Spacevidcast

Don’t forget to check out the Space Shuttle Gallery and follow @SpaceShuttlePix for updates.

Space shuttle Endeavour, STS-130, is bathed in light on launch pad 39A Saturday, February 7, 2010 awaiting blastoff to the International Space Station Sunday morning at 4:39 am. - Credit: Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel

Update 1: Check out some amazing launch photos in the STS-129 Space Shuttle Atlantis gallery.

Launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis

November 16, 2009 at 19:28:08 GMT, NASA successfully launched the Space Shuttle Atlantis on its 31st flight and the 31st shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Atlantis is scheduled to dock with the ISS on November 18, after a two-day chase in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO). After nearly two years, orbiter Atlantis is set to make a return to the ISS, following the extremely successful flagship mission (STS-125) to repair the Hubble Space Telescope in May 2009.

Solid Rocket Booster Ignition and Liftoff of Space Shuttle Atlantis - Source: NASA TV

Liftoff Space Shuttle Atlantis - Source: NASA TV

Six crew members of STS-129, commanded by NASA veteran Charles O. Hobaugh (STS-104, STS-118), will stay in space 10 days, 19 hours, 14 minutes and land at the Kennedy Space Center at 14:43 GMT on November 27. STS-129 Pilot, Barry E.Wilmore, will be responsible for orbiter systems operations and will fly the orbiter during undocking and the flyaround. Mission Specialists Mike Foreman (STS-123), Robert L.Satcher Jr., and Randy Bresnik will combine for a total of 31 hours and 45 minutes during 3 planed spacewalks (EVA) on flight days 4, 6, and 8. Mission Specialist Leland D. Melvin (STS-122) will operate the robotic arm during EVA-1 and EVA-3.

STS-129 Crew: Pictured on the front row are astronauts Charles O. Hobaugh (left), commander; and Barry E. Wilmore, pilot. From the left (back row) are astronauts Leland Melvin, Mike Foreman, Robert L. Satcher Jr. and Randy Bresnik, all mission specialists - Source: NASA

The STS-129 mission carries two ExPRESS Logistic Carries (ELC’s) , a new Materials on International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) carrier, an S-Band Antenna Sub-Assembly (SASA), 14 tons of important spare parts for electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, communications and robotics systems, additional equipment, supplies and scientific experiments.

S-Band Antenna and Support Assembly and Radio Frequency Group (RFG) - Source: NASA

At the end of the STS-129 mission, Atlantis will bring home Expedition 20 and 21 Flight engineer Nicole Stott (@Astro_Nicole), who will become the last astronaut who used the Space Shuttle for a lift to or from the station (as a member of the station’s Expedition crew).

Many of the missions Detailed Test Objectives (DTOs) are aimed to provide additional information for engineers working for the Constellation Program to developer requirements for the rocket and crew module.

Space shuttle Atlantis is seen on Launch Pad 39A of the NASA Kennedy Space Center shortly after the rotating service structure was rolled back - Source: NASA/Bill Ingalls

The next mission to the ISS will be STS-130 (ISS assembly flight 20A), planned to launch on February 4, 2010 at 10:52 GMT by the Space Shuttle Endeavour.  The primary payloads will be the Tranquility module and the Cupola, a robotic control station with six windows around its sides and another in the center that provides a 360-degree view around the station

The next, and last scheduled, flight of the Space Shuttle Atlantis will be the STS-132 (ISS assembly flight ULF4) scheduled for launch on May 14, 2010 at 19:28 GMT. The primary payload is scheduled to be the Russian Rassvet Mini-Research Module along with an Integrated Cargo Carrier-Vertical Light Deployable (ICC-VLD) containing a radiator, airlock and a spare elbow for the European Robotic Arm for the Russian Multi-purpose Laboratory Module.