Photos Of The Last Launch Into Space For Atlantis

Thursday July 21, 2011 at 5:56 AM the Atlantis, along with the four astronauts touched down after its last 13 day mission to the International Space Station. A perfect landing and I guess a perfect end to the space travel as we know it. For 30 years we've watched astronauts take off and land and never once thought there may come a time such as this.

Can you remember 30 years back? Can you remember where you were and if you watched the first launch? I was at work seated in front of the television with my boss. Remembering back over the years that is probably where I saw most of the many, if not all, of the launches. Being there and seeing a launch from Cape Canaveral was just as the moon and the stars have been for many of us - never within reach.

But what is important to me know is NOT the landing of Atlantis today, except for the fact that the four aboard the Atlantis returned to Earth without one horrible incident that would have marred it's voyage forever.

I prefer to remember the beginning - that first day of Atlantis' last trip into space- kind of like the beginning to the end.
What so many do not know is that a local young woman and her husband traveled to Florida to actually witness this last launch of Atlantis. Keep in mind that this couple weren't even born when the Atlantis headed for space 30 years ago.

Cindi (nee Major) and husband Dave Pietroski spent a few days touring the Kennedy Space Center taking in the sights and with Cindi of course, snapping photos. Both of them are true lovers of excitement and I sort of think Cindi was afraid her husband would board the Atlantis for the final flight! Just kidding, of course. But I would't be afraid to bet that if asked to go they'd go in a heartbeat!

She has given me permission to post a few of her photos of the last flight into space for Atlantis.

First please listen to the video salute the astronauts aboard Atlantis sent to the workers at Wallop's Space Flight Facility.

Here are just a few of the many photos taken by Cindi. What a wonderful way to remember the last Atlantis space flight.

THANKS, CINDI!

Last Space Shuttle To Launch On Friday - Weather A Factor

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s last space shuttle launch this week may have to contend with lousy weather.

There’s a 60 percent chance that rain or thunderstorms will delay Friday’s planned liftoff of Atlantis, Kathy Winters, the shuttle weather officer, said Tuesday. The weather improves with each passing day, as the launch time gets slightly earlier.

Friday’s launch time is 11:26 a.m.

The countdown clocks were set to start ticking Tuesday afternoon. The four astronauts assigned to the 12-day flight arrived at Kennedy Space Center on Monday.

Atlantis will make one final supply run to the International Space Station before retiring. As many as a million spectators are expected to jam the Cape Canaveral area for the historic send-off.

Jeremy Graeber, NASA test director, said the launch team is doing its best to put off any emotions associated with the end of the 30-year shuttle era, until Atlantis flies.

“The team gets into the mode of this-is-launch-countdown, and that’s really the focus that everybody has,” Mr. Graeber told journalists. “The rest of the emotion that really comes with the end of the space shuttle program, I think, will really kind of roll in as launch is completed.”



Astronaut Chris Ferguson (left), commander of the last space shuttle mission, looks on as his fellow crew members, (from left) pilot Doug Hurley and mission specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim, wave American flags after arriving at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Monday, July 4, 2011. The space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to lift off Friday morning on a 12-day mission to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/Chris



Mr. Graeber, for one, can’t wait to take his seat in Launch Control. “It’s a really cool job … and [getting] to do it one more time is a great feeling,” he said.

Atlantis is loaded with thousands of pounds of food, clothes, experiments and other supplies for the orbiting complex. NASA wants to stockpile a year’s worth of provisions in case commercially sponsored cargo ships get delayed. The first such launch is targeted for later this year.

NASA is under orders to get out of the Earth-to-orbit business and focus instead on trips to true outer space: an asteroid and Mars.

This will be the 135th flight for the shuttle program and the 33rd for Atlantis, the last shuttle to be retired. Discovery was first in March, followed by Endeavour at the beginning of June. Each shuttle will head to a museum.

NASA said it must launch Atlantis by Sunday — choosing the best two out of three days — otherwise it will have to wait until at least July 16. That’s due to an unmanned rocket scheduled to lift off next week.

If the crowds are as huge as anticipated, NASA said, it will try Friday and then probably wait until Sunday to give launch controllers enough time to deal with the heavy traffic and get some rest.

Source;  http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/5/storms-may-wash-out-last-space-shuttle-launch/