SPACEPHOTOS

(03/01/2002) - Space Shuttle Columbia roars past the lighting mast on launch pad 39A as its fiery exhaust emblazons the pre-dawn sky and nearby water. Both the Rotating Service Structure (left) and Fixed Service Structure are clearly defined in the brilliant light. Liftoff of Columbia on mission STS-109 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).