Space Shuttle Columbia's fiery exhaust illuminates Launch Pad 39A as the vehicle climbs toward its destination in space on mission STS-109.

Space Shuttle Columbia's fiery exhaust illuminates Launch Pad 39A as the vehicle climbs toward its destination in space on mission STS-109. Bathed in the white light are the Rotating Service Structure (left) and Fixed Service Structure with its 80-foot lightning mast on top. Liftoff occurred at 6:22:02:08 a.m. EST (11:22:02:08 GMT). This was the 27th flight of the vehicle and 108th in the history of the Shuttle program. The goal of the mission is the maintenance and upgrade of the Hubble Space Telescope, to be carried out in five spacewalks. The crew comprises Commander Scott D. Altman, Pilot Duane G. Carey, Payload Commander John M. Grunsfeld, and Mission Specialists Nancy Jane Currie, Richard M. Linnehan, James H. Newman and Michael J. Massimino. After the 11-day mission, Columbia is expected to return to KSC March 12 about 4:35 a.m. EST (09:35 GMT).