In less than an hour from the time this is posted, Shuttle Atlantis will lift off for the last time. STS-135 is a 12-day mission to the International Space Station to deliver the last major module, the Multipurpose Logistics Module, as well as a year's worth of supplies for the ISS crew. This is the culmination of 30 years of service for the Shuttle fleet, beginning in April 1981; I am proud and a bit sad as this phase of our exploration comes to an end. I sincerely hope we can field a replacement system soon - ride-sharing is great, but it's better to have your own wheels :) I'd really like to see the private sector get behind this; that's when we'll see the economy of scale take effect and bring the costs down to more reasonable levels.
Godspeed, Atlantis!
-- update --
An interesting note: as currently scheduled, Atlantis will return to Earth on 20 July 2011, 42 years after Armstrong and Aldrin first landed on the Moon. So long, Atlantis, and thanks for all the fish!
-- launch update --
Atlantis has successfully achieved her inital orbit, all three engines performing flawlessly for one last push off the planet... see ya in a fortnight :)
