Photos of Space Shuttle Endeavour's Final Launch

Endeavour Lifts Off

NASA TV

At 8:56 a.m. EDT on May 16, 2011, space shuttle Endeavour and its six-member crew lifted off Launch Pad 39A on a mission to the International Space Station.

Endeavour Awaits Launch Under a Blue Sky

NASA

Under a blue sky, space shuttle Endeavour awaited liftoff on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 16, 2011.

Sunrise on STS-134 Launch Day

NASA/Troy Cryder

The sun rises across NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on space shuttle mission STS-134's launch day. At 8:56 a.m. EDT on May 16, space shuttle Endeavour and its six-member crew lifted off Launch Pad 39A on a mission to the International Space Station.

For previous pictures of the STS-134 mission, please see Part I of this gallery.

STS-134 Crew in Front of the Astrovan

NASA/Kim Shiflett

Space shuttle Endeavour's six STS-134 astronauts, in orange launch-and-entry suits, wave in front of the Astrovan parked in front of the Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. From left, are Mission Specialists Greg Chamitoff, Andrew Feustel, Roberto Vittori with the European Space Agency and Michael Fincke, Pilot Greg H. Johnson, and Commander Mark Kelly.

Shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 Crew Walkout

collectSPACE/Robert Pearlman

The six astronauts of Endeavour's STS-134 mission - the final flight of NASA's youngest orbiter - depart the Operations & Checkout building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. on May 16. The astronauts boarded the "Astro Van" at 5:11 a.m. EDT to journey to Endeavour's seaside Launch Pad 39A.

Shuttle Endeavour Poised for Last Launch

Robert Pearlman/collectSPACE.com

NASA's space shuttle Endeavour stands poised to launch on its final mission STS-134, its 25th and last mission before retirement. Liftoff is set for May 16, 2011 from Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Shuttle Endeavour on the Launch Pad

NASA

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Endeavour awaits its final liftoff from Launch Pad 39A.

Space Shuttle Endeavour Glistens in the Sun

NASA/Frank Michaux

Space shuttle Endeavour glistens in the sun on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The shuttle is launching on its final mission, STS-134, on May 16, 2011.

STS-134 Crew Countdown Rehearsal

NASA/Kim Shiflett

The astronauts of STS-134 came to Kennedy Space Center recently for countdown rehearsal. The real countdown for Space shuttle Endeavour is scheduled for Friday afternoon, April 29, 2011. From left, the astronauts are Commander Mark Kelly, Pilot Gregory H. Johnson and Mission Specialists Mike Fincke, Drew Feustel, Roberto Vittori and Greg Chamitoff.

Lightning Storm Over Shuttle Endeavour

NASA/Bill Ingalls

Lightning and the space shuttle Endeavour are seen at Launch Pad 39A as a storm passes by prior to the rollback of the Rotating Service Structure (RSS), Thursday, April 28, 2011, at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

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