Boris V. Morukov waves as a suit technician in the White Room helps before he enters Space Shuttle Atlantis.

STS-106 Mission Specialist Boris V. Morukov waves as a suit technician in the White Room helps him with his launch and entry suit before he enters Space Shuttle Atlantis. The opening into Atlantis can be seen in the background. The perfect on-time liftoff of Atlantis on mission STS-106 occurred at 8:45:47 a.m. EDT. On the 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the seven-member crew will perform support tasks on orbit, transfer supplies and prepare the living quarters in the newly arrived Zvezda Service Module. The first long-duration crew, dubbed “Expedition One,” is due to arrive at the Station in late fall. Landing of Atlantis is targeted for 4:45 a.m. EDT on Sept. 19