STS-129 HD Launch

On a Monday afternoon at 2:28 p.m. EST, the space shuttle Atlantis, along with its six-member crew, initiated an 11-day mission to deliver essential supplies to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch took place at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This mission had a dual purpose: to ferry critical spare hardware to the ISS and to bring back a station crew member who had spent more than two months in space.

Atlantis was loaded with approximately 30,000 pounds of replacement parts designed to support the ISS. These parts were vital for the station's power systems, thermal regulation to prevent overheating, and maintaining the proper orientation and positioning in space. The shuttle's unique capabilities made it the most suitable means of transporting these substantial pieces of equipment.