Space shuttle Atlantis

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Atlantis, attached to its external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters atop a mobile launcher platform, slowly inches out of the Vehicle Assembly Building for the final time. "Rollout," as it's called, to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida began at 8:42 p.m. EDT. It will take the crawler-transporter about six hours to carry the shuttle stack to its seaside launch pad. The milestone move paves the way for the launch of the STS-135 mission to the International Space Station, targeted for July 8. STS-135 will be the 33rd flight of Atlantis, the 37th shuttle mission to the space station, and the 135th and final mission of NASA's Space Shuttle Program. For more information visit, www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts135/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Ground crews begin towing Space Shuttle Atlantis from the main runway at Edwards Air Force Base following its landing May 24, 2009, which concluded the STS-125 mission to upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope.

This NASA image is public domain.

Space shuttle Atlantis

Space shuttle Atlantis is shown suspended from a sling in the Mate-DeMate Device at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center during preparations for its ferry flight back to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The shuttle landed at Edwards Air Force Base, concluding the 13-day STS-125 mission to service and repair the Hubble Space Telescope.

This photo is public domain.

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Atlantis and the crew of the STS-125 mission landed safely in California at Edwards Air Force Base after completing the Hubble Servicing Mission on Sunday, May 24, 2009. The almost 5.3-million-mile mission included five spacewalks to repair and upgrade the world-famous observatory.

This photo is public domain.

Space Shuttle Atlantis

May 11th, 2009: The Banana River catches the light from space shuttle Atlantis' liftoff from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Atlantis will rendezvous with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope on the STS-125 mission. Liftoff was on time at 2:01 p.m. EDT. Atlantis' 11-day flight will include five spacewalks to refurbish and upgrade the telescope with state-of-the-art science instruments that will expand Hubble's capabilities and extend its operational lifespan through at least 2014.

This outstanding photo is public domain.

Space shuttle Atlantis

Space shuttle Atlantis.

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Trailing smoke and fire, Space Shuttle Atlantis roars into the sky past the U.S. flag on its journey to the International Space Station on mission STS-117. Liftoff was on-time at 7:38:04 p.m. EDT on Friday, June 8.