High-Definition Coverage of STS-129 Launch

The space shuttle Atlantis, with its six-member crew, embarked on an 11-day mission to the International Space Station on Monday, launching at 2:28 p.m. EST from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission aims to deliver spare hardware to the station and bring back a crew member who has spent over two months in space.

Atlantis is transporting approximately 30,000 pounds of replacement parts crucial for the station's power systems, temperature control, and orientation in space. The shuttle's unique capabilities make it ideal for carrying this large and essential equipment.