Powerful launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-129, lifting off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on November 16, 2009. 🌍🔥 STS-129 was a vital mission to the International Space Station (ISS), delivering spare parts and critical hardware to keep the station operating safely in orbit. Moments like this remind us of the power, precision, and bravery behind the Space Shuttle era. 🚀✨ 🎥 Credit: NASA / Wikimedia Commons #SpaceShuttle #Atlantis #STS129 #NASA #SpaceHistory #RocketLaunch #Ke

17 years ago today, I launched on my first spaceflight: STS-124 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery. This is a quick look at the first 8 and a half minutes to orbit, clipped down to under two. Listening to the internal comms really brings it all back. Grateful to have shared this mission with an incredible crew. On the flight deck: Commander Mark Kelly, Pilot Ken Ham, Mission Specialists Ron Garan and me. On the mid-deck: Mission Specialists Mike Fossum, Aki Hoshide, and Greg Chamitoff. #spaceshuttle

2008: Space Shuttle flight 123 (STS-124) Discovery/Kibo (NASA/JAXA)

Reel: After 11 incredible days in orbit and traveling over 4.5 million miles, NASA’s Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-129) made a perfect landing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on November 27, 2009, at 9:44 a.m. EST. This mission wasn’t just another spaceflight — it delivered over 30,000 pounds of spare parts to the International Space Station, ensuring future missions could keep running smoothly. The crew completed three spacewalks, marking another proud milestone in human space exploration. #Sp

✨ A historic landing that marked the end of an era in space exploration! ✨ On May 24, 2009, Space Shuttle Atlantis touched down gracefully at Edwards Air Force Base in California, wrapping up one of NASA’s most unforgettable chapters — the STS-125 mission, also known as the final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. 🛰️ After spending 11 days and 21 hours in orbit, Atlantis and her seven-member crew completed a series of five demanding spacewalks. Each one had a single purpose — to g