July 8
Space Shuttle Atlantis Launches Final Mission
NASA’s Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on July 8, 2011, for the 135th and final mission of the reusable orbiter fleet, delivering supplies to the International Space Station before the program’s retirement.
Summary
After three decades of service, NASA’s Space Shuttle program faced retirement following the loss of Columbia in 2003 and shifting priorities toward commercial crew vehicles and deep-space exploration. Atlantis, the oldest surviving orbiter, was assigned to the final flight, designated STS-135. On July 8, 2011, the shuttle lifted off from Kennedy Space Center carrying a crew of four and a cargo module bound for the International Space Station. The 12-day mission delivered supplies and performed maintenance tasks before returning safely. With Atlantis’s landing on July 21, the reusable shuttle fleet was retired.
Context
The Space Shuttle program, which began with Columbia’s first flight in 1981, provided the United States with reusable access to low-Earth orbit for three decades. The orbiters supported satellite deployments, scientific research, and the assembly of the International Space Station, completing 134 missions before Atlantis’s final voyage. Two catastrophic losses—Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003—prompted safety reviews and ultimately influenced the decision to retire the fleet once ISS construction was complete.
What Happened
On the morning of July 8, 2011, Atlantis stood on Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center under partly cloudy skies. Commander Christopher Ferguson, pilot Douglas Hurley, and mission specialists Sandra Magnus and Rex Walheim boarded the vehicle for the smallest shuttle crew since 1983. Despite earlier weather concerns, the countdown proceeded smoothly. At 11:29 a.m. EDT, the three main engines ignited, followed by solid rocket booster separation two minutes later. Atlantis reached orbit after an eight-and-a-half-minute ascent watched by hundreds of thousands of spectators.
Aftermath
The crew docked with the International Space Station two days after launch and transferred the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module loaded with more than 8,000 pounds of supplies and spare parts. After completing maintenance tasks and experiments, Atlantis undocked on July 19 and performed a final fly-around of the station. The orbiter landed at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility at 5:57 a.m. EDT on July 21, concluding a 12-day, 18-hour mission and the 30-year shuttle program.
Legacy
The retirement of Atlantis, Discovery, and Endeavour shifted U.S. crew transport to Russian Soyuz vehicles until commercial crew vehicles became operational. Cargo resupply transitioned to private companies such as SpaceX and Orbital Sciences. NASA redirected resources toward the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft for lunar and Mars exploration while preserving the International Space Station as a platform for continued international scientific cooperation.
Why It Matters
The flight concluded an era of routine low-Earth orbit access with reusable spacecraft, paving the way for commercial partners to assume ISS resupply roles. It also marked the transition to new vehicles focused on lunar and Mars objectives while preserving the station’s scientific and international cooperation legacy.
Related Questions
Why was Atlantis chosen for the final shuttle mission?
Atlantis was selected because it had the fewest flights remaining on its airframe and was in the best condition among the remaining orbiters to complete the manifest.
What cargo did STS-135 deliver to the ISS?
The primary payload was the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module carrying food, clothing, spare parts, and experiments sufficient to support station operations for more than a year.
How did the end of the shuttle program affect U.S. human spaceflight?
The United States relied on Russian Soyuz spacecraft for crew transport to the ISS until commercial crew vehicles from SpaceX and Boeing became available several years later.
Where is Space Shuttle Atlantis now displayed?
Atlantis is on permanent exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, where visitors can view the orbiter in its final flight configuration.
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Sources
- On This Day in History – July 8, timeanddate.com. Accessed 2026-07-01.