Atlantis and four astronauts thundered into orbit Friday on NASA's last space shuttle voyage, writing the final chapter in a 30-year story of dazzling triumphs, shattering tragedy and, ultimately, unfulfilled expectations.
After days of gloomy forecasts full of rain and heavy cloud cover, the spaceship lifted off at 11:29 a.m. - just 2 minutes late - and embarked on the 135th shuttle mission. The crowd of spectators was estimated at nearly 1 million.
"Let's light this fire one more time," Commander Christopher Ferguson said just before taking flight.
The shuttle was visible for 42 seconds before disappearing into the clouds.
Text and Images: AP
Image: The space shuttle Atlantis lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center on Friday, July 8, 2011, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Atlantis is the 135th and final space shuttle launch for NASA.
After days of gloomy forecasts full of rain and heavy cloud cover, the spaceship lifted off at 11:29 a.m. - just 2 minutes late - and embarked on the 135th shuttle mission. The crowd of spectators was estimated at nearly 1 million.
"Let's light this fire one more time," Commander Christopher Ferguson said just before taking flight.
The shuttle was visible for 42 seconds before disappearing into the clouds.
Text and Images: AP
Image: The space shuttle Atlantis lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center on Friday, July 8, 2011, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Atlantis is the 135th and final space shuttle launch for NASA.
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