Gallery: Atlantis, the Last Shuttle on the Launchpad

By Nancy Atkinson - July 5, 2011 at 3:06 PM UTC | Missions
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It was the ultimate experience for a space enthusiast. Universe Today photographer Michael Deep had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the last shuttle that will ever sit on a launchpad and head to space. Enjoy some unique views of space shuttle Atlantis before she goes down into history as the final shuttle to launch to space.

And stay tuned all week for great photos and articles to chronicle the final shuttle launch: Universe Today photographers Alan Walters, Mike Deep, and David Gonzales as well as writers Ken Kremer and Jason Rhian are on location at Kennedy Space Center to provide full coverage.

[caption id="attachment_87228" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="Sunrise at launchpad 39A. Credit: Mike Deep for Universe Today."]

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[caption id="attachment_87205" align="aligncenter" width="386" caption="A view of Atlantis from the gantry. Credit: Mike Deep for Universe Today."]

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[caption id="attachment_87206" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="A view of the walkway to enter the shuttle. Credit: Mike Deep for Universe Today."]

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[caption id="attachment_87222" align="aligncenter" width="386" caption="Atlantis on the launchpad. Credit: Mike Deep for Universe Today"]

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[caption id="attachment_87223" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="Unique view of shuttle Atlantis on the pad. Credit: Mike Deep for Universe Today."]

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[caption id="attachment_87224" align="aligncenter" width="386" caption="The shuttle's SRBs get the stack off the ground. Credit: Mike Deep for Universe Today"]

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[caption id="attachment_87225" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="The view from the top of launchpad 39A at KSC. Credit: Mike Deep for Universe Today."]

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[caption id="attachment_87226" align="aligncenter" width="386" caption="Atlantis. Credit: Mike Deep for Universe Today. "]

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[caption id="attachment_87227" align="aligncenter" width="386" caption="Looking down at Atlantis from the gantry. Credit: Mike Deep for Universe Today. "]

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[caption id="attachment_87229" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="A wide-angle view of Atlantis on the launchpad. Credit: Mike Deep for Universe Today. "]

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Nancy Atkinson

Nancy Atkinson

Nancy Atkinson is a space journalist and author with a passion for telling the stories of people involved in space exploration and astronomy. She is currently retired from daily writing, but worked at Universe Today for 20 years as a writer and editor. She also contributed articles to The Planetary Society, Ad Astra (National Space Society), New Scientist and many other online outlets.

Her 2019 book, "Eight Years to the Moon: The History of the Apollo Missions,” shares the untold stories of engineers and scientists who worked behind the scenes to make the Apollo program so successful, despite the daunting odds against it. Her first book “Incredible Stories From Space: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Missions Changing Our View of the Cosmos” (2016) tells the stories of 37 scientists and engineers that work on several current NASA robotic missions to explore the solar system and beyond.

Nancy is also a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, and through this program, she has the opportunity to share her passion of space and astronomy with children and adults through presentations and programs. Nancy's personal website is nancyatkinson.com