CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - STS-4 thunders away from Launch Pad 39A at 10:59:59 a.m. EDT, bound for a seven-day Earth orbital mission and the final developmental flight for the Space Transportation System. The fourth Space Shuttle mission is piloted by Commander Ken Mattingly and Pilot Henry Hartsfield Jr. Photo Credit: NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Two majestic birds prepare for flight at Launch Complex 39 moments before the launch of Discovery on its maiden voyage. A great blue heron was startled from its perch in a lagoon south of pad A. Mission 41D was launched at 8:41 a.m. with a crew of six persons and a cargo of three satellites to be deployed. Photo Credit: NASA