One of the most anticipated shuttle launches of all time took place July 8 when Atlantis lifted off at 11:29 A.M. Eastern time for its 33rd and final mission—both for it and NASA's 30-year-old manned space shuttle program. The launch and orbital insertion were flawless.

The STS 135 flight carries a crew of four shuttle veterans, Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, along with mission specialists Rex Walheim and Sandy Magnus.

During Atlantis's 12-day mission the crew will deliver the Italian Space Agency's reusable Raffaello Multipurpose Logistics Module loaded with around 3,500 kilograms of science experiments, supplies, logistics and spare parts to the International Space Station.

View a slideshow of images showing the launch from beginning to end.

2 Comments

1. 1. letxequalx 02:29 PM 7/9/11

   Look at those pictures- see the amazing things we can do! Why don't we want to be that country that can do amazing, impossible things, anymore? Why are we giving up the dream? We should be all the way to Mars by now!
   

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2. 2. jeff.shaw 02:44 PM 7/9/11

   I'm 48 years old, and I wonder if I will live long enough to see another launch like this from U.S. soil. The bitter dysfunction and posturing that dominates our government today is hardly friendly to lofty concepts such as exploration and inspiring people to rise above narrow tribalism. Quite the opposite.

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