Irene Klotz
ABCNews.com
5/14/2010
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) – The space shuttle Atlantis and six veteran astronauts blasted off on Friday from the Kennedy Space Center to deliver a Russian module and spare parts to the International Space Station.
The launch was the last scheduled for Atlantis, and the third-to-last for the shuttle program. NASA is retiring the shuttle fleet, which began flying in 1981, due to cost and safety issues.
Atlantis thundered off its seaside pad at 2:20 p.m. EDT, riding atop a flame-tipped column of smoke as it soared over the Atlantic Ocean. The ship is headed toward an orbital rendezvous with the space station 220 miles above Earth. Docking is scheduled for Sunday.
“We wish you good luck, God speed and have a little fun up there,” NASA Launch Director Mike Leinbach told Atlantis Commander Ken Ham.
“If you don’t mind, we will take her out of the barn and make a few more laps around the planet,” Ham answered.
The crew showed up for their pre-launch breakfast clad in matching blue paisley smoking jackets, lending a sense of formality to Atlantis’ final voyage.
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