Space shuttle is about to launch into history

Unless there is a tropical storm, at 11:26 on Friday 8.7 (22:26 PM) will be one of the most sad moments of the year for Americans. That's when Atlantis space shuttle was launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida.

After Atlantis completed its 12-day voyage to the International Space Station, no one would ever witness another shuttle launch. The last flight of the shuttle program will close a period of US dominance in space exploration.

Atlantis space shuttle is launched and launched at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida - Photo: AFP

The ship piloted by four American astronauts will transport 3.6 tons of inventory to the space station and bring back a broken ammonia pump, according to the US Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA).

About 1 million people are expected to flock along the Atlantic coast in Florida to see the 135th shuttle launch and also the last, according to local officials.

' Space shuttle has brought a lot of good things for the country. It is an extraordinary ship and difficult to break up , 'retired NASA astronaut Mark Kelly, who commanded the last flight of Endeavor in May, revealed.

Last Friday, Kelly and NASA Director Charles Bolden told reporters in Washington about their memories of the space shuttle program and what to expect ahead of the mission to build spacecraft. New generation is assigned to private companies.

'Some of my best friends died while flying on the shuttle and I didn't intend to let human space flights disappear during the time I was in charge of my job,' said Mr. Bolden. remembering 14 people killed in the Challenger and Columbia disasters.

The Challenger exploded just 73 seconds after it was launched in 1986 and the Columbia broke into pieces when returning to Earth in 2003.

'We will not end the flights into human space. We will take difficult and necessary steps to ensure America's superiority in the space exploration program for many years to come , 'Bolden continued.

The shuttle has transported a large number of devices to the space lab and returned several times over the past 30 years, creating what Bolden calls ' the pinnacle of our current achievements, a table kick the rest of the solar system and predict what will happen. '

Atlantis crew, from left to right, commander Chris Ferguson, pilot Doug Hurley, two experts Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim - Photo: AFP

Once the shuttle program ends, astronauts around the world will have to travel with Russian spacecraft at a cost of $ 51 million per seat.

Meanwhile, the successor of the shuttle is still unknown. Some private companies are competing to build a more efficient spacecraft to bring astronauts back into space, but this certainly won't happen in the next few years.

NASA is also eyeing the discovery of Mars and an asteroid in the next few decades.

Atlantis's four-person crew is less than usual because NASA has no active ships to serve as a lifeboat when needed.

These four astronauts used to fly into space in the past. The commander of the group was Navy lieutenant Chris Ferguson, 49; pilot is Doug Hurley, 44; with two experts Sandra Magnus, 46, and Rex Walheim, 48 years old.

When returning to Earth, Atlantis will be at the Kennedy Space Center to serve visitors while other ships are sent to museums in the United States.

' Somehow, I think the ship will continue to inspire people ,' Walheim said.