CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The launch of space shuttle Atlantis from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is viewed from behind Launch Pad 39B. On pad 39B is space shuttle Endeavour, which can launch, if needed, for rescue of Atlantis’ crew during its STS-125 mission to service NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Liftoff of Atlantis was on time at 2:01 p.m. EDT. Atlantis' 11-day flight will include five spacewalks to refurbish and upgrade the telescope with state-of-the-art science instruments that will expand Hubble's capabilities and extend its operational lifespan through at least 2014. The payload includes a Wide Field Camera 3, Fine Guidance Sensor and the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. Photo courtesy of Scott Andrews

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Creating an image of a century plant in bloom, space shuttle Atlantis trails a column of fire and smoke as it races into space on the STS-125 mission to service NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. Liftoff from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida was on time at 2:01 p.m. EDT. Atlantis' 11-day flight will include five spacewalks to refurbish and upgrade the telescope with state-of-the-art science instruments that will expand Hubble's capabilities and extend its operational lifespan through at least 2014. The payload includes a Wide Field Camera 3, Fine Guidance Sensor and the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. Photo courtesy of Scott Andrews

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –Clouds of smoke and steam nearly obliterate Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida as space shuttle Atlantis roars into space on the STS-125 mission to service NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. Liftoff was on time at 2:01 p.m. EDT. Atlantis' 11-day flight will include five spacewalks to refurbish and upgrade the telescope with state-of-the-art science instruments that will expand Hubble's capabilities and extend its operational lifespan through at least 2014. The payload includes a Wide Field Camera 3, Fine Guidance Sensor and the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. Photo courtesy of Scott Andrews

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The launch of space shuttle Atlantis from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is viewed from behind Launch Pad 39B. On pad 39B is space shuttle Endeavour, which can launch, if needed, for rescue of Atlantis’ crew during its STS-125 mission to service NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Liftoff of Atlantis was on time at 2:01 p.m. EDT. Atlantis' 11-day flight will include five spacewalks to refurbish and upgrade the telescope with state-of-the-art science instruments that will expand Hubble's capabilities and extend its operational lifespan through at least 2014. The payload includes a Wide Field Camera 3, Fine Guidance Sensor and the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. Photo courtesy of Scott Andrews

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Under a slow-building cloud bank, space shuttle Atlantis hurtles past the lightning mast on top of the fixed service structure on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Atlantis will rendezvous with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope on the STS-125 service mission. Liftoff was on-time at 2:01 p.m. EDT. Atlantis' 11-day flight will include five spacewalks to refurbish and upgrade the telescope with state-of-the-art science instruments that will expand Hubble's capabilities and extend its operational lifespan through at least 2014. The payload includes a Wide Field Camera 3, Fine Guidance Sensor and the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. Photo courtesy of Scott Andrews

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Clouds of smoke and steam billow across Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida as space shuttle Atlantis roars into space on the STS-125 mission to service NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. Liftoff was on time at 2:01 p.m. EDT. Atlantis' 11-day flight will include five spacewalks to refurbish and upgrade the telescope with state-of-the-art science instruments that will expand Hubble's capabilities and extend its operational lifespan through at least 2014. The payload includes a Wide Field Camera 3, Fine Guidance Sensor and the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. Photo courtesy of Scott Andrews

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – From Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Atlantis hurtles past the lightning mast into space on twin columns of fire on the STS-125 mission to service NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. Liftoff was on time at 2:01 p.m. EDT. Atlantis' 11-day flight will include five spacewalks to refurbish and upgrade the telescope with state-of-the-art science instruments that will expand Hubble's capabilities and extend its operational lifespan through at least 2014. The payload includes a Wide Field Camera 3, Fine Guidance Sensor and the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. Photo courtesy of Scott Andrews

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Sandwiched by billowing clouds above and smoke and steam clouds below, space shuttle Atlantis hurtles past the lightning mast on top of the fixed service structure on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Atlantis will rendezvous with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope on the STS-125 service mission. Liftoff was on-time at 2:01 p.m. EDT. Atlantis' 11-day flight will include five spacewalks to refurbish and upgrade the telescope with state-of-the-art science instruments that will expand Hubble's capabilities and extend its operational lifespan through at least 2014. The payload includes a Wide Field Camera 3, Fine Guidance Sensor and the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. Photo courtesy of Scott Andrews

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – From Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Atlantis roars into the sky on a column of fire on the STS-125 mission to service NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. Liftoff was on time at 2:01 p.m. EDT. Atlantis' 11-day flight will include five spacewalks to refurbish and upgrade the telescope with state-of-the-art science instruments that will expand Hubble's capabilities and extend its operational lifespan through at least 2014. The payload includes a Wide Field Camera 3, Fine Guidance Sensor and the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. Photo courtesy of Scott Andrews

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On twin towers of flame, space shuttle Atlantis roars into space from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on the STS-125 mission to service NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. Liftoff was on time at 2:01 p.m. EDT. Atlantis' 11-day flight will include five spacewalks to refurbish and upgrade the telescope with state-of-the-art science instruments that will expand Hubble's capabilities and extend its operational lifespan through at least 2014. The payload includes a Wide Field Camera 3, Fine Guidance Sensor and the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. Photo courtesy of Scott Andrews

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – From Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Atlantis hurtles into space on twin columns of fire on the STS-125 mission to service NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. Liftoff was on time at 2:01 p.m. EDT. Atlantis' 11-day flight will include five spacewalks to refurbish and upgrade the telescope with state-of-the-art science instruments that will expand Hubble's capabilities and extend its operational lifespan through at least 2014. The payload includes a Wide Field Camera 3, Fine Guidance Sensor and the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. Photo courtesy of Scott Andrews