LATEST STORIES:
Final shuttle liftoff a success
What a day to be at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The space shuttle Atlantis has successfully lifted off into space, for the very last time.
Hundreds of thousands of people were at, or near, the center to see the final launch. After a last-minute glitch that caused a hold on the countdown, Atlantis took off.
The historic liftoff – the 135th of NASA‘s space shuttle program – happened 30 years and 3 months after the very first shuttle flight.
The four-member crew suited up Friday morning in anticipation of the scheduled liftoff – but a 70 percent chance of thunderstorms made the flight a bit uncertain.
The Atlantis is bound for the International Space Station, making one final supply run.
The Kennedy Space Center was packed with shuttle workers, astronauts and 45,000 invited guests — the maximum allowed.
The flight will last 12 days.
Weather permitting, Atlantis will return to the Kennedy Space Center, where it will end up on permanent display.
Video: Evening News – Nick Dixon speaks to Allan Chernoff at Cape Canaveral:
