Space shuttle Atlantis blasts into orbit - Summary

Cape Canaveral, Florida - The space shuttle Atlantis thundered into the sky over Kennedy Space Centre on Monday carrying six crew members on a mission to the International Space Station. The mission is part of the US space agency's efforts to stock up the ISS reserves as the shuttle programme enters its expected final year in 2010. After this week's mission there are just five more flights scheduled.

The shuttle sent billows of steam across the scrub and brush of the central Florida launch site, trailing flames as it shot off into the clouds. The blast shook the ground and sent a roar of sound to the thousands who applauded the successful launch.

"That was definitely the most amazing thing I have ever seen in my life," said 18-year-old Jordan Dailey of Houston, watching the launch as part of a NASA sponsored "Tweetup" for about 100 users of the micro-blogging site Twitter to share their impressions in real time. "I didn't expect it to be like that. It was totally different than on TV."

The crew of Americans wearing orange jumpsuits were earlier strapped into their seats by ground crew after leaving their quarters to cheers and applause from the gathered crowd. They will spend 11 days in space.

Atlantis is to dock Wednesday with the space station, which orbits 350 kilometres above earth.

The shuttle will deliver two platforms with 12,360 kilogrammes of spare parts, which will be installed on the outside of the station.

As the first of several flights devoted largely to delivering spare parts, this mission is carrying the highest-priority items.

The so-called Express Logistics Carriers contain a variety of crucial parts, such as: gyroscopes that help keep the ISS at the proper altitude in space; an extra hand for the station's robotic arm; a gas tank for providing oxygen to the airlock during spacewalks; and parts for the station's cooling system.

Astronauts are also carrying assorted personal items for the ride, including a scarf worn by aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. The scarf has a personal connection for astronaut Randolph Bresnick, whose father served as a photographer to Earhart before her plane was lost over the Pacific during an intended round-the-world flight in 1937.

Astronauts will conduct three six-hour spacewalks to transfer spare parts and prepare for the installation of new modules.

The flight is also the last time the shuttle will be used to take an ISS crew member back to Earth. US astronaut Nicole Stott has been living aboard the ISS for three months.