Atlantis has been in space 32 times since 1985, and orbited the earth 4,648 times, but she's about to make her last journey.
The famed space shuttle is scheduled for an 11:26 am liftoff, weather permitting. After days of unrelenting rain, the skies cleared Friday morning and forecasters are optimistic that Atlantis will launch on time.
Hundreds of thousands of people have flocked to Florida's Space Coast to view the last U.S. shuttle depart from Kennedy Space Center. Atlantis will take 12 days to carry 8,000 lbs. of supplies to the international space station before returning to Earth for good.
Here's a look at the latest photos from the Cape Canaveral as crowds gather to witness this historic event:
Space shuttle Atlantis is shown on launch pad 39A late in the day at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, July 7, 2011. The launch of Atlantis is scheduled for July 8 with a crew of four aboard the final mission of the space shuttle program.REUTERSMembers of the media gather around the Space Shuttle Atlantis as it sits on the launch pad 39A during rainy weather at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, July 7, 2011. The space shuttle Atlantis is due to launch on Friday on the 135th and final flight in NASA's shuttle program.REUTERSSpace shuttle Atlantis sits on launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, July 7, 2011. The space shuttle is due to launch on Friday on the 135th and final flight in NASA's shuttle program.REUTERSThe space shuttle Atlantis is shown on launch pad 39A late in the day at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, July 7, 2011. The launch of Atlantis is scheduled for July 8, with a crew of four aboard the final mission of the space shuttle program.REUTERSThe space shuttle Atlantis is shown on launch pad 39A after the Rotating Service Structure was rolled back at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, July 7, 2011. Launch of Atlantis is scheduled for July 8 with a crew of four aboard the final STS-135 mission of the space shuttle program.REUTERSVivica Eaton (R) and her husband Jeff (2nd R) speak with customers along route A1A as they sell T-shirts with images of space shuttle Atlantis to passing motorists in Cocoa Beach, Florida July 7, 2011. Space shuttle Atlantis, carrying a crew of four with food and other supplies critical for the International Space Station, is set to vault into orbit on Friday for the final flight in the 30-year old U.S. shuttle program.REUTERSOnlookers take cover under umbrellas as space shuttle Atlantis sits on launch pad 39A during rainy weather at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, July 7, 2011. Space shuttle Atlantis is due to launch on Friday on the 135th and final flight in NASA's shuttle program.REUTERS
