nasas shuttle atlantis begins mission

NASA's Shuttle Atlantis Begins Mission to the Space Station

Space shuttle Atlantis and its seven-member crew lifted off at 2:45

p.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 7 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center to begin

the STS-122 mission to the International Space Station. During the

11-day flight, Commander Steve Frick and his six crewmates will

install the European Space Agency's Columbus laboratory on the

station. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station

and provide scientists around the world with the ability to conduct a

variety of life, physical and materials science experiments. The

mission will include three spacewalks, delivery of a new crew member

to the station and the return of another astronaut after nearly four

months aboard the complex.