NASA space shuttle Atlantis is getting ready for its targeted July 8 launch to the International Space Station, which will end the 30-year space shuttle program. The shuttle is expected to launch on July 8 at 11:26 am EDT.

The trip will last for 12 days, during which 8,000 pounds of spare parts will be delivered to the International Space Station. The shuttle will also test whether it is possible to robotically refuel existing orbiting satellites.

The crew members for the STS-135 mission are: Commander Christopher Ferguson, Pilot Douglas Hurley and Mission Specialists Sandra Magnus and Rex Walheim.

The four astronauts are undergoing prelaunch training at Launch Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. They practiced emergency escape procedures and inspected the payloads inside Atlantis' cargo bay. Later they received operations and payload briefings inside Kennedy's Launch Control Center, NASA said in a statement.

Before beginning their training this morning, the crew members answered questions from the news media during a live NASA TV broadcast from the launch pad. Reflecting on the significance of this final space shuttle mission, Commander Ferguson said, I don't think that the full magnitude of the moment will really hit us until the wheels have stopped on the runway. I'm not sure words will really be able to capture for the crew and for the entire shuttle workforce just how much the shuttle program has meant to us for the last 30 years.

On Wednesday, the Space Shuttle Program held its program-level Flight Readiness Review at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. The team recommended a go to proceed to the agency-level review next Tuesday, with a targeted July 8 launch date for the STS-135 mission to the International Space Station.

Technicians at the pad have completed their high-tech X-ray scans of the Atlantis' external fuel tank stringer support beams. The technicians will be scanning the bottoms of the shuttle's 21-foot long beams. Other technicians replaced the main fuel valve in space shuttle main engine No. 3 yesterday. Retesting of the valve is up next.

Apart from the spare parts to be carried to International Space Station, the shuttle will transport two Apple Inc.'s iPhone 4 to the U.S. National Laboratory. The iPhones will probably make their journey home on a Russian Soyuz vehicle in the fall of 2011.

Odyssey Space Research said it has planted a custom-made iOS app, called SpaceLab for iOS, on the iPhones to conduct four experiments that are Limb Tracker, Sensor Cal, State Acq and LFI. The app, which replicates the experience and tasks affected by the crew members on the app, is also available for download on App Store for $0.99.

Limb Tracker is a navigation experiment which will involve taking photographs of Earth and matching an arc to the horizon through manipulation of an overlay. The experiment will result in an estimate of altitude (height above the surface) and 'off axis' angle, a measurement of the angle of the image with respect to the Earth's center.

Another experiment which involves the gyroscope and accelerometer is called the State Acquisition. Also in the fray is an experiment to test the effect of radiation on the iPhone.

Take a glimpse of space shuttle Atlantis with its crew:

NASA Space Shuttle Atlantis
On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the access arm supporting the pad's White Room is in place against space shuttle Atlantis. NASA
NASA Space Shuttle Atlantis
The STS-135 crew members stand for a photograph before a question-and-answer session with media at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A in Florida. From left are Pilot Doug Hurley, Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim, and Commander Chris Ferguson. NASA
NASA Space Shuttle Atlantis
The STS-135 crew members gather at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A in Florida for a question-and-answer session with media. With the microphone in hand is Commander Chris Ferguson as Pilot Doug Hurley (red cap), Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim look on. NASA
NASA Space Shuttle Atlantis
On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, members of space shuttle Atlantis' STS-135 crew are instructed on emergency exit procedures. From left are Pilot Doug Hurley, Mission Specialists Rex Walheim and Sandy Magnus, and Commander Chris Ferguson. Also seen in this image is NASA Test Director Jeff Spaulding (center). NASA
NASA Space Shuttle Atlantis
On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Atlantis' STS-135 crew members are instructed on the slidewire basket emergency exit system at the pad. From left are Mission Specialists Rex Walheim and Sandy Magnus, Pilot Doug Hurley and Commander Chris Ferguson. NASA
NASA Space Shuttle Atlantis
On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Atlantis' STS-135 crew members, become familiar with the pad structure as part of their emergency exit training. Seen here are Mission Specialist Rex Walheim (center), Pilot Doug Hurley, Mission Specialist Sandy Magnus and Commander Chris Ferguson (far right). NASA
NASA Space Shuttle Atlantis
At Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, members of space shuttle Atlantis' STS-135 crew receive instruction by the catch nets for the slidewire baskets at the base of the pad as part of the pad's emergency exit training. From left are Mission Specialist Rex Walheim, Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley and Mission Specialist Sandy Magnus. NASA
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