Space shuttle Atlantis hurtles into the sky atop a column of fire and smoke on the STS-122 mission.

Against a backdrop of clouds, space shuttle Atlantis hurtles into the sky atop a column of fire and smoke on the STS-122 mission. Liftoff was on time at 2:45 p.m. EST. This is the third launch attempt for Atlantis since December 2007 to carry the European Space Agency's Columbus laboratory to the International Space Station. During the 11-day mission, the crew's prime objective is to attach the laboratory to the Harmony module, adding to the station's size and capabilities. Photo credit: NASA/Fletch Hildreth