SPACE

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 death throes of massive stars that have gone supernova are the answer to the long-standing puzzle of what supplied our early universe with dust, according to a new study.

STS-135 Launch Pad Lightning Strike Video

The Space Coast Office of Tourism offers some tips for visitors wishing to view the final launch.

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.

Here are some options for Friday's historic last launch and flight for the U.S. Space Shuttle program.

With the final U.S. space shuttle mission set to blast off on Friday, Russian vehicles will be the only option for American astronauts.

The final space shuttle mission will have a first, the first iPhone in space.

The successor to the Hubble Telescope was delivered a major blow yesterday when the House Appropriations Committee released its spending plan for the coming fiscal year.

NASA's five space orbiters -- Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour -- have been rocketing since 1981 from the Florida coast into Earth orbit. 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.

Data analysis of NASA's Cassini spacecraft by scientists has revealed the first-ever, up-close details of a Saturn storm that is eight times the surface area of Earth, NASA's official website said.

The Atlantis Space Shuttle launch may not happen on the planned time of 11:26 a.m. ET July 8 due to the weather.

The final shuttle launch may be hit by a wave of tropical storms, pushing the possibility of delay up to 70 percent.

NASA said there is a 30 percent chance that weather WON'T ruin Friday's launch.

The historic Atlantis Space Shuttle launch on July 8 will likely be derailed by weather, according to NASA.