Stars and Stripes' Coverage

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  Weather can't keep Atlantis from its final adventure

  Against the odds, space shuttle Atlantis shrugged off foul weather and roared toward orbit Friday on the final launch of the shuttle program.

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  Launch first, layoffs next for space program workers

  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Dean Pettit was at work on the space shuttle before it ever flew, and he was at work on it Friday, as Atlantis blasted into orbit for the final flight of the shuttle program.

  14:10 July 8, 2011
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  Shuttle program's end might reduce opportunities for military pilots

  Just as dark clouds threatened to scrub Friday’s planned launch of the final space shuttle mission, clouds over NASA’s role in human spaceflight could reduce opportunities for elite military pilots to take the ultimate next step upward.

  12:16 July 8, 2011
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  End of shuttle leaves future of manned spaceflight unclear

  As much a symbol as it is a vehicle, the massive white spaceplane poised on the pad at Kennedy Space Center for one last launch has made the United States the world leader in space for three decades.

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  Chances are, rain will prevent shuttle launch

  A tropical wave rolling in from the Bahamas with nasty weather in tow is likely to scrub Friday’s planned shuttle launch, a NASA official said.

• Shuttle program brought breakthroughs, but proved costly and dangerous