NASAs Final Space Shuttle Launch 10th Anniversary Replay | NASA

NASA's final space shuttle launch took place on July 8, 2011. The space shuttle Atlantis (OV-104) was the vehicle that carried out this historic mission, which was designated STS-135. The primary purpose of the mission was to deliver supplies and equipment to the International Space Station (ISS).

Here are some key details about the final space shuttle launch:

1. Mission Name: STS-135 (Space Transportation System-135)
2. Space Shuttle: Atlantis (OV-104)
3. Launch Date: July 8, 2011
4. Launch Time: 11:29 a.m. EDT
5. Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA
6. Mission Objectives: The primary goal of the mission was to deliver supplies, equipment, and experiments to the International Space Station. This included the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), which was filled with supplies and equipment for the ISS.
7. Crew: The STS-135 crew consisted of four astronauts: Commander Christopher Ferguson, Pilot Douglas Hurley, and Mission Specialists Sandra Magnus and Rex Walheim.

STS-135 was a significant mission not only because it marked the final launch of the space shuttle program but also because it highlighted the critical role of the space shuttles in supporting the ISS. After completing its mission, Atlantis returned to Earth, marking the conclusion of the space shuttle era.

The retirement of the space shuttle program was followed by NASA's transition to using commercial launch providers and Russian Soyuz spacecraft for crew transportation to the ISS. NASA's focus shifted to developing the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion spacecraft for future deep space exploration missions.