KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Space Shuttle Atlantis breaks free from the confines of Earth as it soars towards space to begin its STS-43 nine-day mission. The 11:02 a.m. EDT liftoff from Launch Pad 39A was at the opening of the launch window. The five-member crew will conduct a variety of activities, including the primary objective of deploying the fourth Tracking and Data Relay Satellite TDRS-E. Crew members are Mission Commander John E. Blaha, Pilot Michael E. Baker, and Mission Specialists Shannon W. Lucid, James C. Adamson and G. David Low. Photo Credit: NASA
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