NASA

The last space shuttle flight does not mean the end of NASA sending humans into space. However, the era of big-ticket space projects that occurred during the Cold War is undoubtedly over, at least until the United States has eliminated its more than $14 trillion national debt.

The Atlantis Space Shuttle Embarks on its final mission [VIDEO]

The space shuttle Atlantis has launched into space and thus marking the beginning of the end of the space shuttle era.

As is NASA tradition, the Atlantis crew spent their final days relaxing in a private beach house near Cape Canaveral, Florida. Here's a look at this humble cottage that sits just a mile away from the launch pad.

Now you can watch the last space shuttle launch on your Android phone. The app can be downloaded at Android Market.

The space shuttle Atlantis has been in space 32 times since 1985, and orbited the earth 4,648 times, but she's about to make her last journey. Here's where you can watch it all happen.

A look back at the space shuttle era.

Houston, we have no problem watching the Atlantis STS-135 shuttle mission streaming live online.

Check out video of the space shuttle launch live as it happens.

Atlantis has been in space 32 times since 1985, and orbited the earth 4,648 times, but she's about to make her last journey.

At 8:55 a.m. Friday, NASA updated its STS-135 Atlantis Launch Blog, saying the ground launch sequencer has been activated. For now, it is monitoring critical commands and systems, but once the countdown reaches T-9 minutes and counting, the program will take over all of the vehicle's critical functions. The boarding process should take a little more than an hour and the hatch will be closed for flight at about 9:21 a.m., according to NASA.

Check here to get a play by play of NASA's final shuttle launch.

Lightning caused by a severe thunderstorm produced two strikes near NASA's space shuttle Atlantis launch pad. Meanwhile, the shuttle's launch preparations continue as scheduled.

The space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to blast off to the International Space Station at 11:26 am EDT on July 8, which will be the final flight in the 30-year shuttle program.

The user can access several features such as official images , videos, mission information, news, NASA TV and featured content with the new NASA App for Android.

For decades, the mystery behind hole punch clouds have puzzled scientists and on-lookers as they continue to witness giant, open spaces in otherwise continuous cloud cover.

NASA has launched the free NASA App for Android (TM), a new application designed for mobile devices that run the open source Android platform

STS-135 Launch Pad Lightning Strike Video

NASA space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to liftoff on the final mission of the shuttle program, STS-135, a 12-day program to the International Space Station on July 8 at 11:26 am EDT.

There is a better than likely chance that thunderstorms inundating the Cape Canaveral area could force NASA technicians to push back the launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis -- NASA's final launch for the shuttle program.

Up to 1,000,000 people are expected to pack Florida's Space Coast for a glimpse of the last shuttle liftoff in the history of the U.S. Space Program. That's more than any other mission, save the Apollo 11 mission to the moon.