Space shuttle Atlantis sits on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida after its rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building. The shuttle sits atop the mobile launcher platform, which is carried by the crawler-transporter beneath. At left is the rotating service structure with the payload changeout room that allows transfer of payloads from a canister into the shuttle's payload bay. Next to the shuttle is the fixed service structure with its 80-foot lightning mast on top.

Atlantis lifted off on May 11, 2009, to service NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. During Atlantis' 12-day mission, its crew of seven astronauts made the final shuttle flight to Hubble. During five spacewalks, they installed two new instruments, repaired two inactive ones and replaced other components. This resulted in six working, complementary science instruments with capabilities beyond what was previously available, and extended the operational lifespan for the telescope.