Is everything on track for space shuttle Atlantis to launch Friday?”
A huge orange plume trailing behind, space shuttle Atlantis lifted off from the Kennedy Space Centre on its last scheduled mission to the International Space Station, signalling the beginning of the end of the three-decade American programme. As the countdown ended at 2.20 pm on Friday (11.50 pm IST), thousands of people who thronged the sprawling complex in Florida were treated to a jaw-dropping sight as the shuttle’s engines pounded the launch pad lifting it into space with a thunderous roar. Over the next few seconds the shuttle disappeared into the skies embarking on mission STS 132, ascending on what appeared like a scorching streak of sunlight. It left behind a thick cloud of smoke. “You do not see a shuttle launch, you feel it,” Kevin Hoshstrasser, Site Director of Boeing Network and Space, told a group of Indian correspondents ahead of the launch that was cheered by an estimated 3 lakh people who descended here from various places to watch Atlantis make history. The Obama admin
AP has the latest: Space shuttle Atlantis on last leg of last mission By MARCIA DUNN (AP) CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Atlantis’ homeward-bound astronauts paid tribute Tuesday to their space shuttle, close to winding up its final journey after a quarter-century of flight. Commander Kenneth Ham noted that Atlantis has spent nearly 300 days in orbit over 32 missions, and traveled 120 million miles. He and his crew took along a small U.S. flag that actually flew on Atlantis’ first flight. “Atlantis is just a fabulous ship,” said Ham’s co-pilot, Dominic “Tony” Antonelli. “If this ends up being space shuttle Atlantis’ last flight, we’ve got an American flag here that we’re honored to fly,” he said, holding it up and explaining that it flew on Atlantis back in 1985. This is the last flight on the books for Atlantis. Only two missions remain as NASA’s shuttle program winds down, unless the Obama administration agrees to add one more trip for Atlantis. Touchdown is scheduled for Wednesday morning. M
