Atlantis shrugs off glitches for final launch

SPACE shuttle Atlantis thundered off its seaside launch pad, rising atop a tower of smoke and flames as it left Earth on the final flight of the US space shuttle programme yesterday.

Atlantis shrugs off glitches for final launch

About one million sightseers lined highways and beaches around the Kennedy Space Center in central Florida, angling for a last glimpse of the iconic ship that has defined the US space programme for the last 30 years.

They were nearly disappointed, as cloudy skies and nearby rain threatened to delay Atlantis’s launch on a 12-day mission to the International Space Station.

Already a subscriber? Sign in

You have reached your article limit.

Unlimited access. Half the price.

Annual €130 €65

Best value

Monthly €12€6 / month

More in this section

Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited