The final voyage of a 30-year era in space exploration

Space · Published 17 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Watch the final public appearance of the crew of space shuttle Atlantis. This mission marks the end of the Space Shuttle Program and serves as a bridge to NASA's future goals beyond low-Earth orbit.

At 11:26 a.m. on July 8, a historic liftoff occurs involving Rex Walheim, Sandy Magnus, Doug Hurley, and Chris Ferguson. EDT. Their primary objective is to deliver the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module, which carries the supplies and spare parts necessary to sustain the International Space Station once the shuttle fleet is retired.

The mission also features the Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM), an experiment testing the technology required to robotically refuel satellites in space—even those not originally designed for servicing. Additionally, the crew will return a failed ammonia pump from the station. This flight concludes 30 years of shuttle operations as NASA shifts its focus toward deeper space destinations.

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