Discovery lifts off

Rising on twin columns of fire and creating rolling clouds of smoke and steam, Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a picturesque, warm, late February afternoon. Launch of the STS-133 mission was on 24 February 2011 at 21:53 GMT. Discovery and its six-member crew are on a mission to deliver the European-built Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module, packed with supplies and critical spare parts, as well as Robonaut 2, the dexterous humanoid astronaut helper, to the International Space Station. Discovery is on its 39th mission and is scheduled to be retired following STS-133. This is the 133rd Shuttle mission and the 35th Shuttle voyage to the Space Station.