Space shuttle Atlantis makes final landing

Space shuttle Atlantis has landed back on Earth, bringing to a close America's 30-year orbiter programme.  The vehicle swept into the Kennedy Space Center, its wheels touching the runway just before local sunrise.

Nasa's shuttles were instrumental in building the space station, and were used to maintain the Hubble telescope.  "The space shuttle changed the way we view the world and it changed the way we view the Universe," said commander Chris Ferguson on landing.

"There's a lot of emotion today but one thing's indisputable: America's not going to stop exploring," he radioed to mission control.  Retirement of Nasa's iconic shuttle fleet was ordered by the US government, in part due to the high cost of maintaining the ships.

For Atlantis, its retirement will be spent as a static display at the Kennedy visitor complex.  The Discovery and Endeavour shuttles, which made their final flights earlier this year, will go to the Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia and the California Science Center in Los Angeles, respectively.

The decision leaves the country with no means of putting astronauts in orbit.

Storms could spoil shuttle Atlantis launch

The countdown to Friday's final launch of a space shuttle has begun at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC).

But the famous clock in front of the spaceport's press centre may struggle to get all the way down to zero.

Forecasters say showers and even storms will be over Florida's Space Coast by the week's end.  When it does fly, the Atlantis orbiter will be hauling more than 3.5 tonnes (8,000lb) of supplies to the International Space Station (ISS).   "I wish I had a better briefing for you," Nasa's shuttle weather officer Kathy Winters told reporters.   Right now we are going with a 60% chance of KSC weather prohibiting launch due to the potential for showers and isolated thunderstorms in the area."

Huge crowds are expected on the Space Coast to watch the 1126 local time (1526 GMT) lift-off. 
The forecast is going to make for some tough decisions on their part. Do they endure the jammed roads and long queues on Friday to get into the best viewing positions, only for the launch to be postponed? Or do they stay away, hoping for a 24-hour delay and much better weather prospects.
Saturday's forecast is better (40% chance of no-go weather conditions); Sunday's even more so (30%)
Winters said early morning conditions on Friday might be fine, but those showers and storms were likely to pop up just around launch time