( CNN ) -- Space shuttle Atlantis launched Monday afternoon to deliver key spare parts to prolong the life of the International Space Station . The shuttle lifted off as scheduled , at 2:28 p.m . ET from the Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral . The delivery will add years to the station 's life after the space shuttle fleet is retired next year , according to NASA . Monday 's launch is among six planned before then . `` You 'll see this theme in some of the flights that are going to come after ours as well , '' said Brian Smith , the lead space station flight director for the 11-day mission . `` This flight is all about spares . Basically , we 're getting them up there while we still can . '' Some parts are for systems that keep the station from overheating or tumbling through space , according to NASA . `` We 're taking the big ones , '' Smith said . `` And not only are they the big ones -- they 're the ones deemed most critical . That 's why they 're going up first . '' The six-member crew will return to Earth with flight engineer Nicole Stott , who launched in August . CNN iReport : Share your photos , video of shuttle launch . The mission also will include three spacewalks and installation of two platforms to the station 's backbone . The platforms will hold spare parts to sustain station operations after the shuttles are discontinued . `` As the only vehicle large enough to carry many of the big pieces of equipment into space , several of the flights are devoted to the task , '' NASA said . iReporter attends NASA `` Tweet-up '' Other items set for delivery include nitrogen and ammonia tank assemblies , a high-pressure gas tank and the station 's robotic arm . The tanks help cool and pressurize the station .
NEW : The Space Shuttle Atlantis blasted off years on schedule at 2:28 p.m . ET . ET . Shuttle launched on schedule from the Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral . The delivery of key spare parts will add years to the space station 's life . The space shuttle fleet is to be retired years .