Space Shuttle Atlantis launched as Mission STS-125 on 11 May at 2:01 pm EDT.  This page and the next show the launch and climb out to the point where the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB) separated.

Unfortunately the heat of the day, and the body of water between the Causeway and LC39A meant that there was significant haze when looking at Atlantis on the pad.

The first photograph shows Atlantis ready for launch with the Rotating Service Structure and other access arms retracted ready for launch.

Here is the moment when the Main Engines ignite (Time 00 secs) .

The main engine exhaust has reached the Flame Trench and the water that injected for cooling and acoustic damping is starting to turn to steam (Time 08 secs).

The Main Engines are run to high power settings to verify their operation, the steam from the water in the Flame Trench grows (Time 16 secs).

The steam from the water in the Flame Trench grows to the point the the exhaust of the Main Engines is hidden (Time 22 secs).

The steam from the water in the Flame Trench continues to grow and the Solid Rocket Boosters are about to ignite (Time 30 secs).

More photographs of the launch of STS-125 on the next page