NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The launch of the Atlantis as seen through the louvered windows of the Launch Control Center at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Space shuttle Atlantis, framed by a grove of plam trees, lifts off Launch Pad 39A and clears the tower on its way to the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA/Sandra Joseph, Tony Gray, Robert Murray

Space shuttle Atlantis begins liftoff as it leaps into the sky amid clouds of smoke and steam, heading for the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA/Sandra Joseph, Tony Gray, Robert Murray

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin watches the launch of space shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-122 from the Launch Control Center at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Feb. 7, 2008. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Against a backdrop of blue Atlantic Ocean, space shuttle Atlantis with its crew of seven astronaut rise from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center to start the STS-122 mission to the International Space Station. Liftoff was on time at 2:45 p.m. EST. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

The closeout crew helps Mission Specialist Stanley Love with his launch and entry suit in the White Room before he enters space shuttle Atlantis. Mission Specialist Leland Melvin stands behind him. Photo credit: NASA/Scott Haun, Rick Prickett

In the White Room on Launch Pad 39A the closeout crew helps STS-122 Pilot Alan Poindexter with his launch and entry suit before boarding space shuttle Atlantis for liftoff. In the background is Mission Specialist Leopold Eyharts about to go through the hatch into Atlantis. Photo credit: NASA/Scott Haun, Rick Prickett

The STS-122 crew members pause alongside NASA's Astrovan to wave farewell to onlookers before heading for Launch Pad 39A. From left are Mission Specialists Leopold Eyharts, Stanley Love, Hans Schlegel, Rex Walheim, Leland Melvin, Pilot Alan Poindexter and Commander Steve Frick. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the STS-122 mission crew members walk out of the Operation and Checkout Building, eager to ride to the launch pad and take their seats in space shuttle Atlantis. Seen on the right, front to back, are Commander Steve Frick and Mission Specialists Rex Walheim and Hans Schlegel. On the left, front to back, are Pilot Alan Poindexter, followed by Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Stanley Love and Leopold Eyharts. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Commander Steve Frick is happy to be suiting up for launch of space shuttle Atlantis on the STS-122 mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Mission Specialist Rex Walheim is eager to finish suiting up for launch of space shuttle Atlantis on the STS-122 mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Mission Specialist Leland Melvin signals his readiness for the launch of space shuttle Atlantis while he waits to suit up at the Operation and Checkout Building. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the STS-122 mission crew members have gathered before they launch on space shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station. From left, are Mission Specialists Hans Schlegel and Stanley Love, Pilot Alan Poindexter, Commander Steve Frick, and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Rex Walheim and Leopold Eyharts. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Space shuttle Atlantis sits atop the mobile launcher platform before its targeted 2:45 p.m. launch. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton

Lights on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center reveal space shuttle Atlantis following the rollback of the rotating service structure, or RSS. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett