NASA's final shuttle flight

The Space Shuttle Atlantis is revealed as the rotating service structure is rolled back at pad 39a at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, July 7, 2011. Atlantis is set to lift off Friday on the final flight of NASA's shuttle program, STS-135, a 12-day mission to the International Space Station.

A detail view of the space shuttle Atlantis. It lifted off on its maiden voyage on Oct. 3, 1985. Atlantis has already flown 32 missions, including serving as the in-orbit launch site for the planetary probes Magellan and Galileo and the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, and carrying important components for the International Space Station (including the U.S. laboratory module Destiny).

The space shuttle Atlantis stands ready for its final mission.

A umbrella is held to hide from the rain while the rotating service structure is rolled back from space shuttle Atlantis July 7, 2011 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Kelleen Stewart signs a poster that reads, "Best Wishes Atlantis," at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex July 7, 2011, one day before Space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to launch for the last mission of NASA's space shuttle program.

An employee of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex dressed as an astronaut greets children at the center, July 7, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Space Shuttle Atlantis on launch pad 39a at Kennedy Space Center, July 7, 2011.

In this image provided by NASA Television, fire can be seen at the end of the flare stack that vents the hydrogen portion of the external fuel tank, as fueling operations continue for Atlantis early Friday, July 8, 2011. The vented hydrogen is normally burned but the flame is rarely seen.

The crew of Atlantis, on mission STS-135. From left to right: Rex Walheim, pilot Douglas Hurley, commander Christopher Ferguson, Sandra Magnus — NASA

The Mission STS-135 crew, from left to right: Mission Specialist Rex Walheim; Pilot Douglas Hurley; Commander Christopher Ferguson; and Mission Specialist Sandra Magnus.

Larry Moore of McRae Art Studios in Orlando, Fla., works on a painting of the space shuttle Atlantis at the press site at Kennedy Space Center, two hours before the shuttle's launch July 8, 2011 in Cape Canaveral. Bad weather conditions threatened Atlantis' scheduled launch.

People line a bridge as they wait to watch the launch of Atlantis on the last mission of the space shuttle program, July 8, 2011 in Titusville, Fla. An estimated one million people may show up to watch the launch.

Grayson Morgan, 7, from North Carolina, reads while waiting for the launch of space shuttle Atlantis in Titusville, Fla., Friday, July 8, 2011. Atlantis is the 135th and final space shuttle launch for NASA.

Jeff Eaton of Cocoa Beach, Fla., sells T-shirts along A1A in Cocoa Beach Friday, July 8, 2011.

Rabbi Zvi Konikov of Satellite Beach Chabad in Brevard, Fla., prays at the press site at Kennedy Space Center before the launch of Atlantis July 8, 2011 in Cape Canaveral.

Crewmembers of the space shuttle Atlantis walk out before heading to the launch pad July 8, 2011 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida in advance of the 11:26 a.m. ET launch of STS-135, the final flight of the shuttle program. Leading the crew is commander Chris Ferguson (right, front), pilot Doug Hurley (left, front), followed by mission specialists Sandy Magnus (left, rear) and Rex Walheim (right, rear).

The space shuttle Atlantis lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center Friday, July 8, 2011, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Atlantis is the 135th and final space shuttle launch for NASA.

Space Shuttle Atlantis lifts off on NASA's final shuttle mission Friday, July 8, 2011.

The space shuttle Atlantis lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center Friday, July 8, 2011, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Atlantis is the 135th and final space shuttle launch for NASA.

The space shuttle Atlantis lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center Friday, July 8, 2011, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Atlantis is the 135th and final space shuttle launch for NASA.

Spectators watch Atlantis lift off from the Kennedy Space Center Friday, July 8, 2011, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Spectators watch the space shuttle Atlantis lift off from the Kennedy Space Center Friday, July 8, 2011, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

The space shuttle Atlantis lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center Friday, July 8, 2011, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Atlantis is the 135th and final space shuttle launch for NASA.

Photographers take pictures of the space shuttle Atlantis lifting off from the Kennedy Space Center Friday, July 8, 2011, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

An aerial view of the space shuttle Atlantis as it roars into space over Cape Canaveral Fla., on Friday, July 8, 2011.

Kennedy Space Center employee Lisa Gorichky cries as Space Shuttle Atlantis lifts off during the final space shuttle mission from the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral, Fla., July 8, 2011.

Thousands gather in the surf and on the beach in Cocoa Beach, Fla., Friday, July 8, 2011 to witness the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis.

Ron Stillman, left, and Tara Reece of Cocoa Beach, Fla., watch from their surfboards as the Space Shuttle Atlantis lifts off, as seen from Cocoa Beach, Friday, July 8, 2011.

Space shuttle Atlantis is seen through the window of a Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) as it lifts off from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center July 8, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Traveling at 4 miles a second, the orbiter separates from the central fuel tank and solid rocket boosters.

The STS-135 external fuel tank is seen during its release from the space shuttle following the successful launch of Atlantis, on July 8, 2011. An STS-135 crew member using a hand-held still camera took this image.

View from space, Atlantic Ocean/Tropic of Cancer area south of Florida — NASA

A window on space shuttle Atlantis' aft flight deck frames this scene photographed July 9, 2011, featuring the Atlantic Ocean/Tropic of Cancer area south of Florida, including some of the 2,700 islands that constitute the Bahamas.

Backdropped against a mostly blue Earth scene, part of the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module (packed with supplies and spare parts for the International Space Station), the vertical stabilizer of space shuttle Atlantis, and the orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pods are seen in this view photographed by one of the STS-135 crewmembers during the mission's second day of activities in Earth orbit, July 9, 2011.

The southernmost part of Italy with the eastern-most part of Sicily at left as viewed from space.

STS-135 commander Chris Ferguson (left), and pilot Doug Hurley are pictured on the aft flight deck of the space shuttle Atlantis during the mission's second day of activities in Earth orbit.

Prior to docking with the International Space Station Sunday, July 10, 2011, the Atlantis executed a back-flip, allowing cameras to record its underbelly, to check for damage.

A nadir view of the space shuttle Atlantis and its payload as seen in a series of images taken from the viewpoint of the International Space Station, July 10, 2011. A 400 millimeter lens was used to capture this photo session. Seen at the rear of the cargo bay is the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module.

A 1000 millimeter lens was used to capture this particular image.

Atlantis' main and subsystem engines, photographed during its "backflip" maneuver. A 1000 millimeter lens was used to capture this particular series of images.

The nose and underbelly of Atlantis.

A view of the International Space Station as seen from space shuttle Atlantis as the two spacecraft performed rendezvous and docking operations on the STS-135 mission's third day in Earth orbit, July 10, 2011.

The space shuttle Atlantis is seen over the Bahamas prior to a perfect docking with the International Space Station July 10, 2011. Part of a Russian Progress spacecraft which is docked to the station is in the foreground.

Space Shuttle Atlantis shortly after docking at the International Space Station Sunday, July 10, 2011. It is the last time the current generation of NASA shuttles will make a rendezvous with the ISS.

A medium close-up view of NASA astronaut Mike Fossum, Expedition 28 flight engineer, as he participates in a six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk on the International Space Station, July 12, 2011. NASA

With his feet secured on a restraint on the space station remote manipulator system's robotic arm or Canadarm2, NASA astronaut Mike Fossum (lower right side of frame) holds the Robotics Refueling Mission payload, which was the focus of one of the primary chores accomplished on a six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk on July 12, 2011. The failed pump module is with DEXTRE in the upper left corner of the photo. The EVA represents the final scheduled spacewalk of NASA's shuttle missions.

With space shuttle Atlantis as a backdrop, and restrained on the end of the space station's remote manipulator system (or Canadarm2), NASA astronaut Mike Fossum takes a picture during a July 12 spacewalk.

The "Tongue of the Ocean" and several of the 2,700 islands in the Bahamas chain and part of peninsular Florida, including Cape Canaveral, are easily recognized in this scene photographed by one of the STS-135 crewmembers July 12, 2011.

Following the six-hour, 31-minute spacewalk of NASA astronauts Ron Garan (top left) and Mike Fossum (top right), five members of the joint shuttle-station crew pose for photographs in the Quest airlock of the International Space Station. From left: NASA astronauts Chris Ferguson, STS-135 commander, Doug Hurley, pilot, and Rex Walheim, mission specialist.

STS-135 pilot Doug Hurley moves around supplies and equipment in the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM). This module is a component that joined the International Space Station complex after it was flown into space aboard the space shuttle Discovery on STS-133.

Surrounded by supplies and spare parts in the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module, NASA astronaut Sandy Magnus continues her role as "load master" for the joint activities of the Atlantis and International Space Station crews. The tons of items are for use and consumption for the station and its crews.

Toting a cargo transfer bag filled with supplies that was carried aboard Raffaello in Atlantis' cargo bay, NASA astronaut Sandy Magnus participates in a very busy move operation on the fourth day in space for the STS-135 crew. She is in Node 2 (or Harmony) near the PMA-2 passageway, on the International Space Station. She is sporting the striped socks that she rediscovered on the station, left by her on her long-duration stay on the orbital outpost a few years ago.

Seven astronauts (six from NASA and one from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) and three Russian cosmonauts participate in a special meal on the Space Shuttle Atlantis' middeck, July 14, 2011. One of the final meals shared between shuttle and station crews has been called "The All-American Meal." The STS-135 crew consists of NASA astronauts Chris Ferguson (bottom foreground), Doug Hurley, Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim; the Expedition 28 or International Space Station crew members are JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, NASA astronauts Ron Garan and Mike Fossum, and Russian cosmonauts Andrey Borisenko, Alexander Samokutyaev and Sergei Volkov.

The International Space Station. The space shuttle Atlantis is docked just out of frame. In the lower right foreground is the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) experiment installed during the STS-134 mission.

Space Shuttle Atlantis, Southern Lights, Aurora Australis — NASA

A view of the Southern Lights, or Aurora Australis, as seen from the International Space Station July 14, 2011. Part of the orbiter boom sensor system (OBSS) is seen, as is part of the port side wing of the shuttle.

Mission Specialist Sandy Magnus - who previously flew for an extended stay on the International Space Station - spends time in a recent addition to the orbiting lab that wasn't there when she'd last been in space: The multi-windowed cupola, which offers a panoramic view of the Earth.

The space shuttle Atlantis moves behind the International Space Station after detaching from the ISS, as it begins its final journey back to Earth Tuesday, July 19, 2011.

The space shuttle Atlantis lands safely at Kennedy Space Center in Florida in the pre-dawn hours of Thursday, July 21, 2011.

Space Shuttle Atlantis lands at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla., July 21, 2011. The landing of Atlantis marks the end of NASA's 30-year-long space shuttle program. — AP Photo/Florida Today

The landing of Atlantis marks the finale of NASA's 30-year-long space shuttle program.

Commander Chris Ferguson, right, shakes hands with co-pilot Doug Hurley after landing Space Shuttle Atlantis at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla., July 21, 2011. Also pictured are mission specialists Sandra Mangus and Rex Walheim.