NASA’s Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center right on time at 2:20 p.m. EDT, rising into a picture-perfect Florida sky and capping a relatively problem-free countdown.


The final planned mission of space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled for 12 days. Its prime payloads destined for the International Space Station are the second of two Russian Mini-Research Modules and additional spare parts, including a set of batteries for the
station’s truss and a high-powered dish antenna assembly. Atlantis will take the standard two-day before docking with at the International Space Station on Sunday morning, May 16.

Marc Boucher is an entrepreneur, writer, editor, podcaster and publisher. He is the founder of SpaceQ Media. Marc has 30+ years working in various roles in media, space sector not-for-profits, and internet content development.

Marc started his first Internet creator content business in 1992 and hasn't looked back. When not working Marc loves to explore Canada, the world and document nature through his photography.

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2 Comments

  1. I hope you are wrong about this being the final launch of Atlantis. For a mere 600 Million to a Billion Dollars NASA could mount an STS-135 mission to do another support mission in June 2011.
    Faint hope but Shuttle huggers want to delay the inevitable as long as possible.

  2. My sources tell me that there could be not one but two more missions on the books with the first next June.

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