Shuttle Atlantis over Tenerife...

in the Canary Islands, as photographed during a previous mission from the International Space Station (click image for high res version):

North is to the left in the image, and you can clearly see the Pico del Teide volcano within the Las Cañadas caldera through the break in the clouds over the island.

Personal note:  I'll be exploring Tenerife and the volcanic edifice seen here in about five weeks time with Zegrahm Expeditions as their geologist lecturer/guide.  I'm getting excited.

Riding the booster...

A last look...

inside space shuttle Atlantis.

A fascinating and unprecedented view...

of a space shuttle de-orbiting, as seen from the International Space Station (click image for more information):

Everything's a "last"...

for Atlantis and the space shuttle program:

• The Last Space Shuttle Launches Safely Into Orbit
• At Space Station, Shuttle Astronauts Make Last Big Delivery

Sad.

The beginning of the end...

of the space shuttle program as Endeavour returns to Earth from its final mission early yesterday morning (seen above), and Atlantis rolls out to the launch pad for a scheduled July 8 liftoff.  Read more here about the end of American human spaceflight after more than 50 years of leadership.  Sad.

Image courtesy Space.com.

Endeavour successfully lifts off...

on its final mission early this morning.  More here.

Meanwhile, components for the next mission to Mars were delivered to Kennedy Space Center late last week for a late 2011 launch of the Mars Science Laboratory, also known as the Curiosity rover.

UPDATE and BUMPED:  This article contains one very serendipitous and cool image: Student Balloon Photographs Shuttle Endeavour's Launch Into Orbit.  And here's another fantastic shot of the launch taken by a passenger on a commercial flight.  Hat tip: the Bu bro.

Shuttle Endeavour repaired...

and ready for May 16 launch.  Alas, I won't be there to see it on this attempt.

Bummer...

Just announced by NASA:

"DELAY. NASA officials confirm that launch of space shuttle Endeavour will not happen tomorrow because additional time needed to correct the electrical troubles. A new launch date has not been established yet."

Oh well, at least we tried.  Gotta get busy and see if we can change our flights home.

UPDATE:  Here's the full story about the cause of the scrub and delay.

Launch scrubbed today...

due to a technical glitch in the auxiliary power unit.  We're waiting for the NASA news conference to see when the launch may be rescheduled.  Regardless, we're heading out on a fossil hunting expedition tomorrow.

UPDATED:  Sure, we're a bit disappointed, but it was still a terrific day at Kennedy Space Center.  First, we enjoyed a brunch with former astronaut Fred Gregory, whose philosophy of life is to "make a contribution but have fun."  Here he's describing some of his experiences flying three missions on the space shuttle (click to enlarge):

Then around noon we entered the space shuttle simulator that tilted to near vertical, shook vigorously and roared loudly,  giving us an experience from ignition to entering orbit.  Extremely well done physical sensations and very exciting!

Today is launch day...

of STS-134, and tanking operations have begun early this morning, loading the external fuel tank with liquid hydrogen and oxygen.  We're up early and heading out the the center  for brunch with an astronaut and to watch the liftoff this afternoon.  Follow the mission status here.

The most complex flying machine...

built by humans sits ready to go on launch pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center, and we were able to get within 0.8 miles this afternoon for one last glimpse before it roars skyward on Friday (click images to enlarge):

Here's a closeup telephoto shot from the north, with space shuttle Endeavour hidden behind the twin solid rocket boosters and external liquid fuel tank:

The countdown is proceeding smoothly despite some hail and lightening near the pad early this evening.  Liftoff is still scheduled for 3:47 pm EDT tomorrow.

Much like a performance of a ballet...

the mechanical and electrical sequencing required to launch a space shuttle is a closely choreographed series of critical events. For example, check out the countdown timeline for STS-134 which commences at the time of this post, at 2:00 pm EDT today.  Spoiler:  This dance climaxes Friday at 3:47:52 pm EDT. And I'm gonna be there to see it! 

Fingers crossed it all goes according to schedule, but if it doesn't, we've got several days built into our schedule in case of short-term weather delays and/or technical glitches.  Fortunately the weather forecast looks very good on launch day and "there are no hardware worries being worked."

RELATED:  Follow continuously updated STS-134 mission status.

Historic launch pad 39A...

that will be used by Endeavour this coming Friday was previously used to launch Apollo 11, the mission where man first landed on the Moon (click to enlarge).  Read more here.

This Thursday I will take a tour of Kennedy Space Center and will get as close as 1.2 miles from the pad, where the two roads diverge at the bottom center of the aerial image.  It will be awesome to see Endeavour sitting on the historic pad, ready for its final blastoff the following day.

Image credit: NASA image by Robert Simmon/NASA Earth Observatory.

Six days and counting...

until the lift off of space shuttle Endeavour.  I'm packing today, getting ready for departure on Wednesday, meeting the Bu bro and two of his kids at the Denver airport.  Here's our tentative itinerary during our trip to Florida's "Space Coast":

• Wednesday:  Fly into Orlando, arriving late afternoon.
• Thursday: Visit Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and take bus tour of the facility that includes NASA headquarters and the closest possible view of Endeavour on pad 39A. We’ll also visit the Shuttle Landing Facility and runway, see the massive Vehicle Assembly Building, and catch a glimpse of the gigantic Crawler Transporters.
• Friday: Back to KSC for lunch with an astronaut and afternoon blast off if all goes according to schedule!
• Saturday: Visit Cocoa Beach and hopefully see the solid rocket boosters being towed back to KSC.
• Sunday: Fossil hunting in the Peace River.
• Monday: Return home.

I'm very, very excited.  I feel like a kid again.

RELATED:  Florida Braces for Huge Crowds for Next Week's Space Shuttle Launch.

Today's 'Flight Readiness Review'...

has concluded with NASA mission managers giving a unanimous "go" for launch of Endeavour next Friday, 29 April, at 3:47 pm EDT.

Looks like I'll be heading to the Cape next week!

I can't wait for the 134th...

The Bu bro and I are anxiously counting down to our impending trip to the Kennedy Space Center to be on site when Endeavour (STS-134) lifts off on April 29th. Enthusiasm is high!

RELATED:  Current STS-134 mission status at Spaceflight.now.  And launch viewing tickets at KSC are still available, but at inflated prices, on eBay.  (I thought ticket scalping was illegal?)

Retired space shuttles go to...

the Smithsonian and museums in California, Florida and New York City.  New York City?!  Seems like Houston would have been a more appropriate choice.

And all EWU got is a single measly tile.

Space shuttle launch delayed...

ten days, now targeted for April 29th.  Oh well. Gotta get busy and reschedule a number of things.  (Unfortunately that task falls on the Bu bro.)  Here's the latest from Spaceflight Now.

Related previous post.

Launch viewing tickets...

arrived today, plus a vehicle placard that allows access to the Kennedy Space Center, for the day of the launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour:

This. Will. Be. Exciting.


RELATED:  To catch up with this developing story, here's a previous post.

STS-134 MISSION STATUS:  Spaceflight Now.