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Atlantis launches on final shuttle mission
Submitted by Special on Fri, 07/08/2011 - 12:15pm.
Atlantis sits on the launch pad at night, its reflection showing in the water below (NASA photo)
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER - Space shuttle Atlantis arced gracefully into the sky Friday morning on the final journey of a storied program that has been marked by triumph and tragedy.
Hundreds of thousands of spectators descended on the Cape Canaveral area to witness the event. The space center was packed with guests and media, and dignitaries on hand included former National Aeronautics and Space Administration officials, four members of the Kennedy family and singers Gloria Estefan and Jimmy Buffett.
Atlantis's four-person crew is embarking on a 12-day mission, the 135th of the shuttle program, that is aimed mainly at restocking the International Space Station with spare parts and a year's worth of provisions.
The launch had seemed unlikely only hours earlier, given inclement weather in recent days. On Thursday, steady rain drenched the Cape Canaveral area and shortly after noon, two lightning strikes hit near the launch pad. NASA engineers found no damage to the pad or orbiter.
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