The Final Space Shuttle Mission STS-135 HD

Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:05 am » by **Hibernate1908**

Space shuttle Atlantis is started on the final flight of the shuttle program, STS-135, a 12-day mission to the International Space Station. Atlantis will carry a crew of four and the Raffaello multipurpose logistics module containing supplies and spare parts for the space station. The STS-135 astronauts are: Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, and Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim.

The NASA Authorization Act of 2010 directs NASA to conduct the STS-135 mission. The Space Shuttle Program has added the mission to the manifest to prepare for a potential target launch date in early July.

Atlantis will carry the Raffaello multipurpose logistics module to deliver supplies, logistics and spare parts to the International Space Station. The mission also will fly a system to investigate the potential for robotically refueling existing spacecraft and return a failed ammonia pump module to help NASA better understand the failure mechanism and improve pump designs for future systems.

Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:14 am » by **Tuor10**

So what role does NASA fulfil once the shuttles are scrapped?
Are there plans for a second generation shuttle?
I read some time back about orbital space planes.
I believe Virgin are pioneering this technology for commercial use.

Fri Jul 08, 2011 4:02 am » by **The57ironman**