NASA Shuttle Launches (70 images)

NASA's Space Shuttle Atlantis sits poised for launch on Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida on December 5, 2007. NASA is making final preparations to launch Atlantis on Mission STS-122, a service mission to the International Space Station to install the European Space Agency's Columbus module. The shuttle is scheduled to launch at 4:31 p.m. EST on December 6. (UPI Photo/Kevin Dietsch).

The Space Shuttle Atlantis sits poised on Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida on June 8, 2007. NASA is making final preparations to launch the shuttle on Mission 117 to the International Space Station this evening at approximately 7:38. (UPI Photo/Joe Marino-Bill Cantrell)

NASA's Space Shuttle Atlantis sits poised for launch on Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida on December 5, 2007. NASA is making final preparations to launch Atlantis on Mission STS-122, a service mission to the International Space Station to install the European Space Agency's Columbus module. Atlantis is scheduled to launch at 4:31 p.m. EST on December 6. (UPI Photo/Kevin Dietsch)

NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery sits poised for launch on Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida on October 22, 2007. NASA is making final preparations to launch Discovery on Mission STS-120, a service mission to the International Space Station, scheduled for a launch time of 11:38 a.m. on October 23. (UPI Photo/Kevin Dietsch)