NASA's final space shuttle, Atlantis, and its four member crew embarked on a 12-day mission to the International Space Station this morning at 11:26 AM EST.

The space shuttle Atlantis
The space shuttle Atlantis STS-135 lifts off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral REUTERS/Scott Audette
The space shuttle Atlantis, STS-135 lifts off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral
The space shuttle Atlantis, STS-135 lifts off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral REUTERS
The space shuttle Atlantis, STS-135 lifts off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral
The space shuttle Atlantis, STS-135 lifts off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral REUTERS
The space shuttle Atlantis, STS-135 lifts off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral
The space shuttle Atlantis, STS-135 lifts off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral REUTERS
The space shuttle Atlantis, STS-135 lifts off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral
The space shuttle Atlantis, STS-135 lifts off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral REUTERS
Space shuttle Atlantis
The space shuttle Atlantis STS-135 lifts off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida Reuters
Space Launch