Atlantis: The last mission comes to an end - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff

America's Manned Space Vehicles - Part 1

From capsules strapped to expendable rockets to the renewable space shuttle, NASA has developed and used many launching vehicles in their 50-year history to hurl men and women into space.

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End of NASA shuttle program begins new space race
End of NASA shuttle program begins new space race
Updated: Thursday, July 7 2011 7:34 PM EDT2011-07-07 23:34:17 GMT
After dozens of liftoffs and landings over three decades, Atlantis is set to launch. Atlantis marks the 135th and last shuttle mission ending a program that dates back to 1981.

History of America in SpaceHistory of America in SpaceMore>>
America's Manned Space Vehicles - Part 1
America's Manned Space Vehicles - Part 1
(RNN) - With the retirement of America's last space shuttle just days away, we await the announcement of its replacement. From capsules strapped to expendable rockets to the renewable space shuttle, NASA
From capsules strapped to expendable rockets to the renewable space shuttle, NASA has developed and used many launching vehicles in their 50-year history to hurl men and women into space.
SLIDESHOW: The Space Shuttle Fleet
SLIDESHOW: The Space Shuttle Fleet
Click here to view a slideshow of the full orbiter fleet.
Click here to view a slideshow of the full orbiter fleet.
SLIDESHOW: Kennedy's Moon Challenge
SLIDESHOW: Kennedy's Moon Challenge
Click here to view scans of President Kennedy's second draft of his Rice University address with his hand written comments challenging America to go to the moon.
Click here to view scans of President Kennedy's second draft of his Rice University address with his hand written comments challenging America to go to the moon.
SLIDESHOW: America's First Space Launch Vehicles
SLIDESHOW: America's First Space Launch Vehicles
Click here to view photos of the rockets that entered America into the space race.
Click here to view photos of the rockets that entered America into the space race.
SLIDESHOW: The Saturn Rockets
SLIDESHOW: The Saturn Rockets
Click here to see a slideshow of the monstrous rockets that sent man to the Moon.
Click here to see a slideshow of the monstrous rockets that sent man to the Moon.

Shuttle MultimediaMultimediaMore>>
Journal: The Last Shuttle Launch
Journal: The Last Shuttle Launch
For the 12 days of STS-135, this journal will report on the daily happenings of America's final shuttle mission and will look to NASA's possible future by focusing on its past.
For the 12 days of STS-135, this journal will report on the daily happenings of America's final shuttle mission and will look to NASA's possible future by focusing on its past.
SLIDESHOW: Atlantis' Final Mission
SLIDESHOW: Atlantis' Final Mission
View images from Atlantis' last mission on and off the International Space Station.
View images from Atlantis' last mission on and off the International Space Station.
INTERACTIVE: Track Atlantis
INTERACTIVE: Track Atlantis
Click here track the space shuttle during launch and landing in Google Earth using real-time data from Mission Control.
Click here track the space shuttle during launch and landing in Google Earth using real-time data from Mission Control.
SLIDESHOW: The Final Launch
SLIDESHOW: The Final Launch
View images from the historic final launch of the space shuttle.
SLIDESHOW: Atlantis' final crew
SLIDESHOW: Atlantis' final crew
Images leading up to Atlantis' final launch.
Images leading up to Atlantis' final launch.

NASA: Crew InterviewsVideos from NASA: In their own wordsMore>>
In Their Own Words: Chris Ferguson
In Their Own Words: Chris Ferguson
(NASA) - The shuttle's final commander, Chris Ferguson, talks about getting chosen for the last mission, becoming an astronaut and flying the Shuttle Training Aircraft.
In Their Own Words: STS-135 Crew
In Their Own Words: STS-135 Crew
(NASA) - The crew of the final space shuttle mission, STS-135, discuss getting selected for the flight, what it means to spaceflight history and what went into the mission patch design.
In Their Own Words: Doug Hurley
In Their Own Words: Doug Hurley
(NASA) - STS-135 Pilot Doug Hurley talks about his selection for the final shuttle mission, why he became an astronaut and the surprises of spaceflight.
In Their Own Words: Sandy Magnus
In Their Own Words: Sandy Magnus
(NASA) - STS-135 Mission Specialist Sandy Magnus talks about living in space, becoming an astronaut and the adjustment to gravity coming home.
NASCAR NOTES: Allmendinger suspended by NASCAR
NASCAR NOTES: Allmendinger suspended by NASCAR
STS-135 Daily Mission Recap - Flight Day 5
STS-135 Daily Mission Recap - Flight Day 5
(NASA) - A video recap of flight day 5 of the STS-135 mission of space shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station.

Atlantis: The last mission comes to an end - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff

More STS-135 StoriesOlder Shuttle StoriesMore>>

History of America in SpaceHistory of America in SpaceMore>>

Shuttle MultimediaMultimediaMore>>

NASA: Crew InterviewsVideos from NASA: In their own wordsMore>>

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