Center Director Bob Cabana congratulates the mission management team for the successful launch of space shuttle Atlantis.

In the Firing Room at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Center Director Bob Cabana congratulates the mission management team for the successful launch of space shuttle Atlantis. 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 credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett