Atlantis lifts off: the story in pictures 7 February 2008         Atlantis lifts off   Atlantis lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, 7 February 2008. Columbus, ESA’s advanced science laboratory in space, has been launched into orbit and is on its way to dock with the International Space Station (ISS). Columbus was on board NASA’s Space Shuttle Atlantis when it lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida at 20:45 CET, 7 February 2008. For this one-way trip to Earth orbit, Columbus is in the expert hands of a crew of seven astronauts, including two members of the European astronaut corps: Léopold Eyharts of France and Hans Schlegel of Germany.       Atlantis lifts off         Atlantis lifts off         Atlantis lifts off         Atlantis lifts off         Atlantis lifts off         Atlantis lifts off         Atlantis lifts off        •  Columbus Mission (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Columbus/index.html)  •  Columbus Blog (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Columbus_Blog/index.html) Related articles  •  Europe’s Columbus laboratory leaves Earth (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMAK729R9F_index_0.html)  •  Perfect view of ISS just before Columbus launch (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMTFDPR4CF_index_0.html)  •  Columbus launch set for 7 February (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMBT232VBF_index_0.html)  •  Columbus placed inside Space Shuttle (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMF3H53R8F_index_0.html)  •  Columbus moves to payload canister (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMDT3NHE8F_index_0.html)  •  Columbus hatch closed for last time (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMBR8JJX7F_index_0.html) Related links  •  Columbus laboratory (http://www.esa.int/esaHS/ESAAYI0VMOC_iss_0.html)  •  International Space Station (http://www.esa.int/esaHS/iss.html)  •  Human Spaceflight and Exploration (http://www.esa.int/esaHS/index.html)  •  NASA Kennedy Space Center (http://www.ksc.nasa.gov) Related ESApod  •  European Columbus laboratory is ready to launch (http://www.esa.int/esaHS/SEMF2QMHE8F_iss_0.html)  •  ESA astronaut Léopold Eyharts ready to make space history (http://www.esa.int/esaHS/SEMFRD63R8F_astronauts_0.html)