KSC-2010-3351

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Space shuttle Atlantis' liftoff from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is witnessed by news media representatives and STS-132 Tweetup participants on hand by the countdown clock at the Press Site. Launch of the STS-132 mission was at 2:20 p.m. EDT on May 14. The six-member crew will deliver the Russian-built Mini Research Module-1 to the International Space Station. Named Rassvet, Russian for 'dawn,' the module is the second in a series of new pressurized components for Russia and will be permanently attached to the Earth-facing port of the Zarya control module. Rassvet will be used for cargo storage and will provide an additional docking port to the station. Also aboard Atlantis is an Integrated Cargo Carrier, or ICC, an unpressurized flat bed pallet and keel yoke assembly used to support the transfer of exterior cargo from the shuttle to the station. STS-132 is the 34th mission to the station and the last scheduled flight for Atlantis. For more information on the STS-132 mission objectives, payload and crew, visit http:__www.nasa.gov_mission_pages_shuttle_shuttlemissions_sts132_index.html. Photo Credit: NASA_Jim Grossmann