Final Flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis Tomorrow

This will be the first time I head over to Kennedy Space Center in Florida to watch a launch in person, since STS-91 in 1998. I intend to be on hand for both the launches and landings of the last three historic missions. Probably wonâ€™t be on Gather much for the next couple of days but Iâ€™ll post pictures when Iâ€™m back.

Atlantis to fly with Booster segments from its Maiden Mission

When space shuttle Atlantis lifts off later this week on what NASA has planned to be its final flight, helping to launch it will be a rocket booster segment that first flew 25 years ago on the orbiter's maiden mission.

The aft dome on the left solid rocket booster scheduled to loft Atlantis' STS-132 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) Friday, May 14, first launched STS-51J, the orbiter's first flight to space, on Oct. 3, 1985.

Above: A solid rocket booster segment that launched Atlantis' maiden mission (left) is set to fly on the orbiter's final flight.

Comments: 13

Ryan Reid May 13, 2010, 1:33pm UTC

what is NASA going to do after they stop with the launches? is there plans for new shuttles?

Matthew M. May 13, 2010, 1:50pm UTC

They started a new program called Constellation. Obama has scrapped that and now the future is uncertain (of all places to cut spending). Commercial space flight might eventually take over.

Matthew M. May 13, 2010, 2:29pm UTC

Thanks Jack and you're right we will be relying on Russia for awhile.

Ryan Reid May 14, 2010, 12:15pm UTC

thanks jack

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Kevin (''The SiteWizard'') V. May 13, 2010, 1:57pm UTC

We should simply let the Chinese take over space exploration. Afterall, it's only a vacuum, right?

Kevin (''The SiteWizard'') V. May 13, 2010, 1:58pm UTC

Â Â ha ha ha

Matthew M. May 13, 2010, 2:03pm UTC

LOL. China and primarily Russia will be dominating in this area for awhile. No one planned this out very well.

Kevin (''The SiteWizard'') V. May 13, 2010, 2:16pm UTC

On a serious note though, the situation we're in now makes me angry. To allow the shuttles to pass into retirement without a known and tested replacement is simply unforgivable.

Matthew M. May 13, 2010, 2:28pm UTC

I agree, at minimum we better give our shuttles a nice place to retire.

Doc, in the middle, holding on... Curmudgeon esq. May 13, 2010, 10:19pm UTC

休斯顿，你有问题！

(Chinese for: Houston, YOU have a problem!)

better get used to it.

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Final Flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis Tomorrow

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