STS-132: The Final Planned Flight of Atlantis
 

Lift-off scheduled for 2:20 EDT today. This will be Atlantis' 32nd trip into space and her last. Only two more shuttle flights are scheduled after STS-132.

You can view the launch here

WHY ARE WE WASTING MONEY ON THIS WHEN THE ECONOMY IS IN THE TANK?











Just thought I'd get that out of the way early. :)

Track when Atlantis and the ISS are viewable in your area here:

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/

Until Atlantis docks with, and just after separation from the ISS, some lucky viewers will get to see them fly by as a pair.

Well done. In case you've never seen this, I highly recommend it. They are visible with the naked eye and look like a very bright star moving quickly across the sky.

Sad we're running out of shuttles. I always get a kick out of seeing them and the ISS pass over as a pair.

It's bitter-sweet for me. The orbiters are neat and all, but way too expensive and mission capability sucks. They also have a major design flaw. If they keep flying them, they'll lose another one.

So, we get to hitch rides with the Russians from now on.

Have you ever watched one of their delivery vehicles link up to the ISS? I'm assuming you'd be able to see it just like a shuttle, maybe not as bright though. Maybe I'm wrong.

No, I have not.

Hatch closed.

T - 1:50:50

Sweet. I forgot all about this. I should drive over there and watch the lift-off.

T - 15:30

There will be another hold at T - 9:00

T - 9:00 and holding

No constraints. Count resume.

T - 9:00 and counting!