Hey, just so you know ... this post is now about 13 years and 9 months old. Please keep that in mind as it very well may contain broken links and/or outdated information.

The skies were gray but that didn’t detract from the beauty of the last space shuttle launch. It sounded like they might scrub the launch at the last minute due to the weather, but Atlantis lifted on-time, taking a huge load of supplies up to the international space station.

I wasn’t lucky enough to be selected for KSC tickets in the raffle so I had to settle for watching the last launch live on NASA TV on my iPad. I love listening to the live feed (although there were a lot of prepared speeches this time).

It’s hard to believe STS-135 is the last shuttle mission, ending a 30-year program. Sadly, it will be years before another manned spacecraft blasts off from U. S. soil. I wore my Constellation polo shirt to work today as a little reminder of what could have been (or what still might be).

At least I got to see a few launches live, although only one up close and personal (well, from Titusville … a spectacular night launch of Endeavour in 2002 for STS-113). And, of course, I’ll always remember Challenger and Columbia (the very first shuttle launched for STS-1).