The Last Space Shuttle - STS-135

Space shuttle Atlantis is off to one of the smoothest starts of a mission in the 30-year history of NASA's shuttle program, which ends with this same voyage, agency officials said.

Atlantis launched into space Friday (July 8) from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on what is the final flight of NASA's shuttle program before the fleet is retired this year. The shuttle and its crew of four are headed for the International Space Station to deliver vital supplies.