Shuttle Atlantis Set to Be Launched by NASA on July 8 for Last Historical Space Mission

Shuttle Atlantis Set to Be Launched for Last Historical Space Mission

ATLANTIS, Florida - NASA is all set to make historical last space mission for Atlantis on July 8. Atlantis will be carrying four U.S. astronauts and supplies to replenish the stock of the International Space Station. 

Atlantis’ 12-day last space voyage will mark the end of an era in human spaceflight, after which the U.S will have to rely on Russia to send astronauts to space until a replacement US capsule can be ready for the space trip.”

NASA spokesman Allard Beutel said after the process of filling the external fuel tank, “The beginning of the end of the space shuttle era is this morning.”

The Atlantis mission will have all the risk due to severe weather forecast ahead as there’re just 30% chances of favourable conditions for lift-off the space shuttle. 

According to sources; the weather will be assessed once again with the rise of sun tomorrow and then the decision will be finalized about the take off of Atlantis.

Once NASA fails to launch Atlantis on Saturday they would have only two more spare days (Sunday/Monday) to make it launch before delaying it until July 16 due to the schedule of unmanned rocket to be launched next week.

An estimated 750,000 people have gathered in Florida for the shuttle launch, significant of the crowds that gathered for the Apollo moon missions.

Once Atlantis soars, it will be another three years - possibly five or more - before astronauts blast off again from US soil.

This will be the 33rd flight for Atlantis and the 135th shuttle mission overall.

Atlantis will join Discovery and Endeavour in retirement.