Space Shuttle Endeavour

Space shuttle Endeavour leaps from NASA's Kennedy Space Center's launch pad 39A on Wednesday July 15, 2009. After many delays, the sixth launch attempt was on-time at 6:03 p.m. EDT. Eight or nine pieces of foam insulation came off the external fuel tank during liftoff, and the shuttle was hit at least two or three times, said Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's space operations chief.

Credit: AP Photo/NASA