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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At least one bird retreats from the blazing space shuttle Atlantis as it roars into the sky on mission STS-122 to the International Space Station. The fiery trail reflects its light in the nearby lagoon waters. Liftoff was on time at 2:45 p.m. EST. The launch is the third attempt for Atlantis since December 2007 to carry the European Space Agency's Columbus laboratory to the International Space Station. During the 11-day mission, the crew's prime objective is to attach the laboratory to the Harmony module, adding to the station's size and capabilities. Photo credit: NASA/Sandra Joseph, Tony Gray, Robert Murray