The Atlantis Space Shuttle landing for the Last Time!

The Atlantis Space Shuttle Lands for the Last Time!

Built by Rockwell International for NASA from January 29, 1979 until April 13, 1985 on its delivery date. Atlantis would make its first voyage in October 1985. It would take six years to build and deliver from the time Rockwell was awarded the contract. The ship traveled 125,000,000 miles, just about half the distance to Mars, depending on the orbit and time of year. Weighing 86,000 tons, it was over 12 stories long and close to 60 feet high. Having 33 missions under her wings, this would all come to an end on her final flight on July 8, 2011. This would mark the time that the private sector would break through and build the next generation of rockets into space.