Digital News Report – Today, NASA announced the final launch date schedule for the Atlantis Space Shuttle for July 8, 2011, at 11:26 a.m. EDT. Not only will this be the final launch of Atlantis, it will also be the last mission for NASA’s Space Shuttle program. The launch will take place at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Mission STS-135 will be a 12-day trip to deliver Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module, supplies, and spare parts to the International Space Station. The astronauts will also be experimenting with the Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM) to see if they can robotically refuel satellites in space.
Even though the date has been announced, it is always possible that NASA will have to reschedule due to weather or equipment reasons. It will be Atlantis’ 33rd flight into Space. After Mission STS-135 in completed, Atlantis will be retired and placed in a museum.
By: Victoria Brown