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 space shuttle Discovery landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida

Space Shuttle Discovery landed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida after a 15-day mission and 238 orbits of Earth. Discovery’s main gear touched down at 13:08:35 GMT, followed by the nose gear at 13:08:47 GMT and wheelstop at 13:09:33 GMT.

The space shuttle Discovery is seen as it lands at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, Tuesday, April 20, 2010. Discovery and the STS-131 mission crew, Commander Alan G. Poindexter, Pilot James P. Dutton Jr. and Mission Specialists Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Rick Mastracchio, Stephanie Wilson, Clayton Anderson and Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki returned from their mission to the International Space Station. Photo credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

STS-131 was the 131st space shuttle mission, the 38th for Discovery and the 33rd shuttle mission to the International Space Station. It was the second flight of 2010. It is Discovery’s penultimate mission; its last flight is STS-133, targeted for Sept. 16.

Homecoming The space shuttle Discovery is seen as it lands at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, Tuesday, April 20, 2010. Discovery and the STS-131 mission crew--Commander Alan G. Poindexter, pilot James P. Dutton Jr. and mission specialists Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Rick Mastracchio, Stephanie Wilson, Clayton Anderson and Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki--returned from their mission to the International Space Station - Credit: Naoki KASHIWADANI

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 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.

Streams of smoke trail from the main landing gear tires as space shuttle Atlantis touches down on Runway 33 at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida after 11 days in space, completing the 4.5-million-mile STS-129 mission on orbit 171 - Source: NASA/Jim Grossmann

Today, at 14:44:23 GMT, the Space Shuttle Atlantis landed on runway 33 of the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), 10 days, 19 hours, 16 minutes, and 13 seconds after the lift of on November 16 at 19:28:10 GMT, ending a flawless mission.

Main gear touchdown at 14:44:23 GMT on runway 33 at the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center - Source: NASA

Main chute deployed - Source: NASA

Nose gear touchdown at 14:44:36 GMT - Source: NASA

The view of runway 33 from the shuttle cockpit - Source: NASA TV

Space Shuttle Atlatis during the 300-degree right-overhead Heading Alignment circle turn - Source: NASA TV

At 10:52 GMT, STS-129 entry Flight Director Bryan Lunney and his entry team of flight controllers gave Atlatis a “go” to close the payload bay doors. The crew members suited up in their launch and entry suits at 12:14 GMT and strapped into their seats at 12:37 GMT. At 13:18 GMT the Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM), astronaut Chris Ferguson (STS-115, STS-126), radioed Atlantis Commander Charlie Hobaugh that Atlantis was to “go” for the de-orbit burn.

Blue skies above the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center - Source: NASA TV

Flying upside down and backwards more than 300 km above the Indian Ocean just west of Indonesia, the crew executed the deorbit burn lasting 2 minutes and 47 seconds with the Time of Ignition (TIG) at at 13:37:10 GMT, slowing the orbiter down by about 340 km/h. The orbiter encountered the upper layers of the Earth’s atmosphere at around 14:12 GMT, marking the beginning of the entry interface (EI). At the time of EI, the shuttle was flying at Mach 25 with its nose elevated 40 degrees at of about 120km over the south Pacific ocean.

STS-129 Long-range Landing Ground Track on orbit 171 - Source: NASA

During the STS-129 mission’s (ISS assembly flight ULF3) 3 extra-vehicular activities (EVA’s), Atlantis crew installed the S-band Antenna Sub-Assembly (SASA), the GATOR (Grappling Adaptor to On-Orbit Railing) bracket to the Columbus laboratory, High Pressure Gas Tank (HPGT) on the Quest airlock, the ExPRESS Logistics Carrier 2 (ELC-2), deployed the S3 outboard Payload Attachment System, relocated the Floating Potential Measurement Unit, removed a pair of micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) shields from outside the airlock and strapped them to the External Stowage Platform #2, and shut down and packed the failed Urine Processor Assembly/Distillation Assembly (UPA DA).

The Canadarm2 or the Space Station Remote Manipulator System mates the Express Logistics Carrier (ELC) 2 to the Zenith / Outboard Payload Attachment System (PAS) on the S3 Truss aboard the International Space Station, as controlled by Atlantis and station crews in the shirt sleeve environment of the orbital outpost - Source: NASA

EVA 3 marked the 230th conducted by U.S. astronauts, the 136th in support of Space Station assembly and maintenance, totaling 849 hours, 18 minutes and the 108th spacewalk out of the space station, totaling 662 hours, 3 minutes.

Atlantis brought home Expedition 20 and 21 Flight engineer Nicole Stott (@Astro_Nicole) (item number 914), who has become last of the shuttle rotating expedition crew members (ShRECs). She spent 87 days aboard the International Space Station and 91 days in space, which was apparently close enough to earn her NASA’s “100 Days In Space” patch, designed by astronaut Andy Thomas in 2004.

Tuesday, at 1500 GMT, European Space Agency astronaut Frank De Winne handed over command of the station to NASA astronaut Jeff Williams (@Astro_Jeff) in the. De Winne and Expedition 21 Flight Engineers Roman Romanenko and Robert Thirsk are scheduled to leave the station for return to Earth in a Soyuz capsule on November 30.

The next scheduled space shuttle mission is the STS-130 (ISS assembly flight 20A), targeted to launch on February 4, 2010 at 10:52 GMT, will be the 161st American manned space flight, the 32nd shuttle mission to the ISS and the 24th flight of the space shuttle Endeavour. The primary payloads are 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.

Attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits, these six astronauts take a break from training to pose for the STS-129 crew portrait. Pictured on the front row are astronauts Charlie Hobaugh (left), commander; and Barry Wilmore, pilot. From the left (back row) are astronauts Leland Melvin, Mike Foreman, Robert Satcher and Randy Bresnik, all mission specialists - Source: NASA

Preparations for undocking are on the way as the ISS flies over the Mediterranean Sea - Source: NASA TV

Yesterday, the STS-129 and Expedition 21 crew members parted ways with a change of command and farewell ceremony, where Expedition 21 Commander Frank De Winne handed over the command of the International Space Station to NASA’s astronaut Jeff Williams (@Astro_Jeff). After the farewell ceremony, the crews closed the hatches that divide the two spacecraft at 18:12 GMT.

The STS-129 and Expedition 21 crew members bid farewell. Photo credit: NASA TV

After 87 days spent in the complex, Expedition 20 and 21 Flight engineer Nicole Stott (@Astro_Nicole), officially, item number 914, became 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). If Atlantis lands as scheduled, she will have spent 91 days in space.

Space Shuttle Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) is scheduled to execute the deorbit burn at 13:37 GMT on Friday, leading to landing at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) runway 33 at 14:44 GMT.

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.

The milestones of STS-129 Space Shuttle Atlantis launch (reverse order):

~ 19:37:43 GMT @ T+09:45 – Nominal MECO, OMS-1 not required.

- 19:36:31 GMT @ T+08:33 – External Tank (ET) separation.

External Tank (ET) Separation - Source: NASA TV

- 19:36:20 GMT @ T+08:22 -  The Main Engine Cut-off (MECO), zero thrust (at T+08:35). Atlantis has reach the planned orbit and is schedule to dock with the International Space Station on Flight Day 3.

- 19:35:13 GMT @ T+07:05 – Single engine press 104 – Atlantis can now reach planned orbit on a single engine at 104.5% throttle in case of two main engine failure.

- 19:35:05 GMT @ T+06:57 – Nominal shut down plan. Go for the plus X, and go for the pitch – The shuttle has can reach the planned elliptical orbit (before circularization) and without no a correction by the Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) is necessary (OMS-1 not required). 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.

- 19:34:48 GMT @ T+06:40 – Press to MECO (Main Engine Cut-off) 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.

- 19:33:33 GMT @ T+05:25 – 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.

- 19:32:57 GMT @ T+04:49 – Press to ATO select Zaragoza – Atlantis could now reach a safe 195 by 157 km orbit 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, Spain would be used).

- 19:31:58 GMT @ T+03:50 – Negative Return – Atlantis has used too much fuel and is traveling too fast, too high and is too far to return to the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for a potential Return To Launch Site (RTLS) abort.

- 19:30:33 GMT @ T+02:25 – 2 engine Moron. Atlantis can now reach the Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL) site in Moron in the case of a single engine failure.

- 19:30:12 GMT @ T+02:04 – Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) separation. Atlantis is at the altitude of 45 km, 40 km down range from the KSC, traveling at 5800 km/h (Mach 4).

Solid Rocket Booster (SBR) Separation - Source: NASA TV

~19:28:53 GMT @ ~T+00:45 – The shuttle passed Mach 1 while the engines were throttling down before Max-Q (the point of the greatest dynamic pressure)

Space Shuttle Atlantis moments after the liftoff completing the Roll Maneuver - Source: NASA TV

- 19:28:08 GMT @ T-00:00 – Lift-off. Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) ignition and lift-off of the Space Shuttle Atlantis on the STS-129 (ISS assembly flight ULF3) mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

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

- 19:28:01 GMT @ T-00:06.6 (and 06.48, 06.36) – The three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) start.

Space Shuttle Main Engines start - Source: NASA TV

- 19:27:59 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 exhausted into the main engine nozzles - Source: NASA TV

- 19:27:53 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.

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 - Source: NASA TV

- 19:27:37 GMT @ T-00:31 – Auto-sequence start. Atlantis’s on-board computers have primary control of all vehicle’s critical functions.

- 19:19:10 GMT: The countdown clock resumes at T-9min and counting.

- 17:32 GMT: Shuttle Atlantis’ hatch has been closed and latched for flight, the six STS-129 astronauts are strapped into their seats

- 15:59 GMT: The countdown clock resumes at T-3hr and counting.

The countdown clock resumes at T-3hrs - Source: NASA TV

- 15:39 GMT: The STS-129 crew leaves the crew quarters at the Operations and Checkout Building and board the Astrovan to head to the Pad 39A.

STS-129 crew members, from left, Robert Satcher, Mike Foreman, Randy Bresnik, Leland Melvin, Pilot Barry Wilmore, and Mission Commander Charlie Hobaugh stop and pose for a photograph before getting into the Astrovan and heading to launch pad 39A at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 - Source: NASA/Bill Ingalls

- 15:33 GMT: Final inspection team is on the pad looking for ice & frost buildup on the External Tank

- 12:51 GMT: The shuttle tanking went into a stable replenish and the countdown entered a 2.5 hour long inbuilt hold at T-3 hours.

- 11:50 GMT: The liquid hydrogen tanking has reached 98% and will transition from fast-full to top-off at 2700 l per minute.

- 10:42 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)

- 10:33 GMT: Launch teams began liquid oxygen tanking in the slow-fill phase adding 1,200 liters every minute.

- 10:03 GMT: Fueling of the External Tank began with liquid hydrogen (at 20K) started in the slow-fill mode and the liquid oxygen (at 90.188 K) will follow at 10:33 GMT.

STS-128 launch from T-9 minutes to the Main Engine Cut-off (MECO):

Detailed launch time line between T-31s and MECO is available in my launch post.

For Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-128 17A) launch photos visit my twitter feed gallery

Information about out about visible ISS and shuttle passes at your location is available from heavens-above.

The ground track of ISS with its current position - The dashed part of the orbit path shows where the satellite is in the earth's shadow, and the full part is where it is sunlit - Source: Heavens-Above.com

The ground track of Space Shuttle Discovery with its current position - The dashed part of the orbit path shows where the orbiter is in the earth's shadow, and the full part is where it is sunlit - Source: Heavens-Above.com