1 00:00:00,910 --> 00:01:03,070 (Music) 2 00:01:03,070 --> 00:01:06,270 NASA Test Director: And attention all personnel. This is the NTD conducting the launch status check. 3 00:01:06,270 --> 00:01:08,400 Verify ready to resume count and go for launch. OTC. 4 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:10,640 Orbiter Test Conductor: OTC is go. 5 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:11,170 NASA Test Director: TBC. 6 00:01:11,170 --> 00:01:12,540 Tank/Booster Test Conductor: Tank and booster go. 7 00:01:12,540 --> 00:01:13,690 NASA Test Director: PTC. 8 00:01:13,690 --> 00:01:14,720 Payload Test Conductor: PTC is go. 9 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:15,230 NASA Test Director: LPS. 10 00:01:15,230 --> 00:01:16,240 Launch Processing System Test Conductor: LPS is go. 11 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:16,760 NASA Test Director: MILA. 12 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:18,200 Merritt Island Launch Annex: MILA is go. 13 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:18,770 NASA Test Director: STM. 14 00:01:18,770 --> 00:01:19,660 Support Test Manager: STM is go. 15 00:01:19,660 --> 00:01:20,350 NASA Test Director: Safety console. 16 00:01:20,350 --> 00:01:22,100 Safety Console Coordinator: Safety console is go. 17 00:01:22,100 --> 00:01:22,900 NASA Test Director: SPE. 18 00:01:22,900 --> 00:01:24,520 Shuttle Project Engineer: SPE is go. 19 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:25,050 NASA Test Director: LRD. 20 00:01:25,050 --> 00:01:26,760 Landing and Recovery Director: LRD is go. 21 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:27,570 NASA Test Director: SRO. 22 00:01:27,570 --> 00:01:30,570 Superintendent of Range Operations: SRO is go. You have a range clear to launch. 23 00:01:30,570 --> 00:01:32,090 NASA Test Director: And CDR. 24 00:01:32,090 --> 00:01:34,780 Commander Chris Ferguson: CDR is go. 25 00:01:34,780 --> 00:01:38,110 NASA Test Director: And launch director, NTD. Our launch team is ready to proceed. 26 00:01:38,110 --> 00:01:41,550 Launch Director Mike Leinbach: I copy that. I'll do my poll at this time. KSC Chief Processing Engineer, 27 00:01:41,550 --> 00:01:44,280 verify no constraints to launch. KSC Chief Processing Engineer: No constraints. 28 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:47,020 Launch Director Mike Leinbach: Thank you, Steve. KSC Safety and Mission Assurance. 29 00:01:47,020 --> 00:01:48,560 KSC Safety and Mission Assurance: Safety and Mission Assurance is go, Mike. 30 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:50,540 Launch Director Mike Leinbach: Thank you, Terry. Payload Launch Manager. 31 00:01:50,540 --> 00:01:52,960 Payload Launch Manager: Hey, Mike. On behalf of the ISS ground payload processing team, 32 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:57,210 I want to say thanks to you and the shuttle team. It's been a great partnership, and we are go. 33 00:01:57,210 --> 00:01:59,380 Launch Director Mike Leinbach: Thank you, Bill. Appreciate that. Range Weather. 34 00:01:59,380 --> 00:02:01,500 Shuttle Launch Weather Officer: Launch weather has no constraints for launch. 35 00:02:01,500 --> 00:02:04,990 Launch Director Mike Leinbach: Thank you, Kathy. Atlantis Flow Director. 36 00:02:04,990 --> 00:02:09,040 Atlantis Flow Director: On behalf of the KSC civil processing team, we are go. 37 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:12,600 Launch Director Mike Leinbach: Thank you, Angie. Atlantis, launch director, air-to-ground 1. 38 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:15,490 Commander Chris Ferguson: Atlantis, go. 39 00:02:15,490 --> 00:02:19,330 Launch Director Mike Leinbach: Ok, Fergie, we're starting to feel pretty good down here on the ground about this one today, 40 00:02:19,330 --> 00:02:27,050 so on behalf of the greatest team in the world, good luck to you and your crew on the final flight of this true American icon. 41 00:02:27,050 --> 00:02:36,400 And so for the final time, Fergie, Doug, Sandy and Rex, good luck, Godspeed and have a little fun up there. 42 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:40,960 Commander Chris Ferguson: Hey, thanks to you and your team, Mike, and till the very end you all made it look easy. 43 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:46,970 The shuttle's always going to be a reflection of what a great nation can do when it dares to be bold and commits to follow through. 44 00:02:46,970 --> 00:02:51,750 We're not ending the journey today, Mike, we're completing a chapter of a journey that will never end. 45 00:02:51,750 --> 00:02:54,440 You and the thousands of men and women who gave their hearts, 46 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:58,650 souls and their lives to the cause of exploration have rewritten history. 47 00:02:58,650 --> 00:03:07,480 Let's light this fire one more time, Mike, and witness this great nation at its best. The crew of Atlantis is ready for launch. 48 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:11,460 Ground Launch Sequencer Engineer: GLS is go for orbiter access arm retract. 49 00:03:11,460 --> 00:03:16,360 Orbiter Test Conductor: Atlantis, this is the OTC. This day has been over 30 years in the making. 50 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:22,980 There have been many fabulous missions throughout the years. On behalf of KSC launch teams past and present, 51 00:03:22,980 --> 00:03:29,670 we salute the entire astronaut corps for their dedication, not only for our expanded knowledge of the universe, 52 00:03:29,670 --> 00:03:36,280 but for the improvement you have contributed to on Earth. Have an excellent mission and Godspeed. 53 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:43,550 Commander Chris Ferguson: Good words, Roberta. Thank you very much. (Inaudible) 54 00:03:43,550 --> 00:03:45,240 Ground Launch Sequencer Engineer: Auto-sequence start. 55 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:48,890 Launch Commentator George Diller: The handoff to Atlantis' onboard computers has occurred. 56 00:03:48,890 --> 00:03:52,430 Solid rocket booster nozzle steering check in work. 57 00:03:52,430 --> 00:04:00,080 Firing chain is armed. 58 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:06,410 Launch Commentator George Diller: Go for main engine start. T-10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 59 00:04:06,410 --> 00:04:09,120 (Roar of engines igniting) 60 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:15,220 5, all three engines up and burning... 2, 1, zero and liftoff! 61 00:04:15,220 --> 00:04:23,100 The final liftoff of Atlantis. On the shoulders of the space shuttle, America will continue the dream. 62 00:04:23,100 --> 00:04:24,910 Commander Chris Ferguson: Roll program, Houston. 63 00:04:24,910 --> 00:04:27,440 CAPCOM Barry Wilmore: Roger Roll, Atlantis. 64 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:30,230 Flight Commentator Rob Navias: Houston now controlling the flight of Atlantis. 65 00:04:30,230 --> 00:04:37,660 The space shuttle spreads it wings one final time for the start of a sentimental journey into history. 66 00:04:37,660 --> 00:04:41,860 Twenty-four seconds into the flight, roll program complete, Atlantis now heads-down, 67 00:04:41,860 --> 00:04:45,950 wings level on the proper alignment for its eight-and-a-half-minute ride to orbit. 68 00:04:45,950 --> 00:04:52,730 Four-and-a-half-million pounds of hardware and humans taking aim on the International Space Station. 69 00:04:52,730 --> 00:04:58,420 Forty seconds into the flight, the three liquid-fueled main engines throttling back to 72 percent of rated performance, 70 00:04:58,420 --> 00:05:05,230 in the bucket, reducing stress on the shuttle as it goes transonic for the final time. 71 00:05:05,230 --> 00:05:10,780 Atlantis flexing its muscles one final time. 72 00:05:10,780 --> 00:05:16,840 Atlantis traveling almost 2,600 mph, 21 miles in altitude, 24 miles downrange. 73 00:05:16,840 --> 00:05:38,190 Standing by for solid rocket booster separation. 74 00:05:38,190 --> 00:05:41,020 (Two sonic booms) 75 00:05:41,020 --> 00:05:43,010 Commander Chris Ferguson: Hey, field in sight, Houston. 76 00:05:43,010 --> 00:05:50,330 CAPCOM Barry Wilmore: Copy, Atlantis. Field in sight. 77 00:05:50,330 --> 00:05:52,700 Descent Commentator Rob Navias: Landing gear down and locked. 78 00:05:52,700 --> 00:06:01,240 Main gear touchdown. (Pilot Doug) Hurley now deploying the drag chute. 79 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:03,800 (Commander Chris) Ferguson rotating the nose gear down to the deck. 80 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:07,150 Nose gear touchdown. 81 00:06:07,150 --> 00:06:11,210 Descent Commentator Rob Navias: Having fired the imagination of a generation, a ship like no other, 82 00:06:11,210 --> 00:06:48,950 its place in history secured, the space shuttle pulls into port for the last time. Its voyage, at an end. 83 00:06:48,950 --> 00:06:52,740 Commander Chris Ferguson: Mission complete, Houston. After serving the world for over 30 years, 84 00:06:52,740 --> 00:06:58,760 the space shuttle found its place in history. It's come to a final stop. 85 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:03,400 CAPCOM Barry Wilmore: We copy your wheel stop and we'll take this opportunity to congratulate you Atlantis, 86 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:08,820 as well as the thousands of passionate individuals across this great space-faring nation, 87 00:07:08,820 --> 00:07:11,930 who truly empowered this incredible spacecraft, 88 00:07:11,930 --> 00:07:20,100 which for three decades has inspired millions around the globe. Job well done America. 89 00:07:20,100 --> 00:07:22,140 Commander Chris Ferguson: Hey, thanks Butch. Great words, great words. 90 00:07:22,140 --> 00:07:29,070 You know the space shuttle has changed the way we view the world, and it's changed the way we view our universe. 91 00:07:29,070 --> 00:07:32,030 There's a lot of emotion today, but one thing's indisputable. 92 00:07:32,030 --> 00:07:39,140 America's not going to stop exploring. Thank you Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Endeavour, and our ship, Atlantis.