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→16 May (Flight Day 1 – Launch): Corrected date from 16 May (Flight Day 1 of STS-134) to 8 Jul |
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Actual launch time was 11:29:03.9 EST.
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[[File:Launch shuttle Atlantis.jpg|thumb|Launch shuttle Atlantis]]
The launch day was threatened by unfavorable weather leaving only a 30% chance of a launch occurring<ref name="FX final launch countdown">{{Cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/07/08/atlantis-blasts-off-on-final-flight-for-space-shuttle-program/ |title=Atlantis Blasts Off on Final Flight for Space Shuttle Program |accessdate=2011-07-08|publisher=FOX News Network, LLC.}}</ref>; this changed an hour before launch to 60% chance of launch. An estimated 1 million people showed up to view the launch at viewing sites. Satisfactory weather appeared an hour before the launch window allowing the mission to proceed as planned.<ref name="good weather launch countdown">{{Cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2011-07-08-space-shuttle-atlantis-launch_n.htm|title=Shuttle Atlantis reaches orbit for final time |author= Mark DeCotis |accessdate=2011-07-08|publisher=FOX News Network, LLC.}}</ref> The final flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis launched from the [[Kennedy Space Center]] on Friday, 8 July at 11:29 EDT. The launch was cheered by a crowd of nearly one million both inside the Kennedy Space Center and the surrounding area.<ref>{{cite news|title=Space shuttle Atlantis in historic final lift-off|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-14077893|accessdate=8 July 2011|newspaper=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Shuttle Atlantis reaches orbit for final time|url=http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2011-07-08-space-shuttle-atlantis-launch_n.htm|accessdate=8 July 2011|newspaper=USA Today}}</ref>
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