STS-43 Atlantis, OV-104, lifts off from KSC Launch Complex (LC) Pad 39A

STS043-S-090 (2 Aug 1991) --- The Space Shuttle Atlantis soars toward space to begin a scheduled nine-day mission. The 11:02:00 a.m. (EDT) liftoff from Launch Pad 39A came at the beginning of the launch window. Onboard the spacecraft were astronauts John E. Blaha, mission commander; Michael A. Baker, pilot; and Shannon W. Lucid, James C. Adamson and G. David Low, all mission specialists. Six hours after this picture was taken, the astronauts deployed the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-E).