Photos: Atlantis thunders into space

Published: May 11, 2009 at 11:28 AM PDT Last Updated: May 11, 2009 at 1:47 PM PDT

Atlantis blasts off

Space shuttle Atlantis and a crew of seven thundered away Monday on one last flight to the Hubble Space Telescope, setting off on an extraordinarily ambitious repair mission that NASA hopes will lift the celebrated observatory to new scientific heights.

Gregory Johnson dons a training version of his shuttle launch and entry suit in preparation for a training session in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at Johnson Space Center on Jan., 29 2008. (NASA Photo)

Andrew J. Feustel awaits the start of a training session in the waters of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory near Johnson Space Center on Dec. 17, 2007. (NASA photo)

Mike Massimino (right) and Mike Good, with home plate from New York City's Shea Stadium, are seen during a break from their training in the Neutral Buoyancy Lab. (NASA photo)

Two NASA T-38 jet trainer aircraft fly over the Space Shuttle Endeavour on Pad 39-B at the Kennedy Space Center. (NASA photo)

AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

Commander Scott D. Altman, right, waves as he and the rest of the crew depart the Operations and Check-Out building at the Kennedy Space Center. Next to Altman, front left, is pilot Gregory C. Johnson, of Seattle.