STS 135

STS 135 is no longer on orbit

NORAD ID: 37736

Int'l Code: 2011-031A

Launch date: July 8, 2011
Source: United States (US)
Launch site: AIR FORCE EASTERN TEST RANGE (AFETR)
Decay date: 2011-07-21

Space shuttle Atlantis (STS 135 mission) is the final flight of the shuttle program, STS-135, a 12-day mission to the International Space Station. Commander Chris Ferguson is leading a skeleton crew of four on Atlantis' STS-135 flight. He's joined by pilot Doug Hurley and mission specialists Rex Walheim and Sandy Magnus. Other shuttle missions over the years have typically carried six or seven spaceflyers, but NASA wanted to use every bit of available space to pack extra cargo on this last drop-off mission to the station. The astronauts will deliver about 9,500 pounds (4,318 kilograms) of cargo to the station. Atlantis is also delivering several different science experiments, one of which—the Robotic Refueling Mission—is an attempt to demonstrate a way to refuel satellites robotically on orbit. In addition, Atlantis is also carrying two iPhone 4 smartphones loaded with apps to help astronauts perform experiments in space. This represents the first time iPhones have ever gone to space. Atlantis will chase the station down for a while, finally docking with the US$100 billion orbiting lab on Sunday (July 10). The shuttle is scheduled to return to Earth for the final time on July 20.