The space shuttle Atlantis blasts off from its launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, June 8, 2007. The shuttle will dock with the International Space Station on its 11-day mission.

The space shuttle Atlantis blasts off from its launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, June 8, 2007. The shuttle will dock with the International Space Station on its 11 day mission.

The space shuttle Atlantis blasts off from its launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, June 8, 2007. The shuttle will dock with the International Space Station on its 11-day mission.

Crowds of people watch the space shuttle Atlantis as it blasts off from its launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, June 8, 2007. The shuttle will dock with the International Space Station on its 11-day mission.

A video grab shows the space shuttle Atlantis carrying her STS-117 into orbit as the spacecraft heads toward a planned rendevouz with the International Space Station in this view from NASA TV June 8, 2007.

The contrail from the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis floats above the massive Vehicle Assembly at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, June 8, 2007. Atlantis begins Mission STS-117 to the International Space Station.