can you hear me, major tom?

today was the launch of the last shuttle in NASA's shuttle program. it's weird to know that the space program as we know it will change dramatically after today. it's strange to think that some day i'll explain to my children (with nostalgia and wisdom, no doubt) about the drama and suspense of shuttle launches from my childhood and young adulthood, and they won't really understand what i'm talking about.

weird.

adios, shuttle atlantis.
from NASA's home page:

Space shuttle Atlantis lifted off July 8 on the final flight of the shuttle program, STS-135, a 12-day mission to the International Space Station. Atlantis carries a crew of four and the Raffaello multipurpose logistics module containing supplies and spare parts for the space station. The STS-135 astronauts are: Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, and Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim.

from youtube: