KSC-2011-1774

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Discovery soars toward orbit hour atop twin columns of fire, beginning its final flight, the STS-133 mission, to the International Space Station. The shuttle lifted off from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 4:53 p.m. EST. Discovery and its six-member crew will deliver the Permanent Multipurpose Module, packed with supplies and critical spare parts, as well as Robonaut 2, the dexterous humanoid astronaut helper, to the orbiting outpost. Discovery is flying on its 39th mission and is scheduled to be retired following STS-133. This is the 133rd Space Shuttle Program mission and the 35th shuttle voyage to the space station. For more information on the STS-133 mission, visit www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts133/. Photo credit: NASA/Rusty Backer and Michael Gayle