Atlantis shuttle launch

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Key points

* The Atlantis shuttle lifted off at 1129 local Florida time (1629 BST) on a mission to haul critical supplies to the International Space Station
* The flight is the 135th and final space shuttle launch and the 33rd lift-off for the Atlantis orbiter
* Up to a million people gathered near Kennedy Space Center to see the final launch, according to estimates

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* Final Atlantis mission lifts off Watch

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Reporters: Lucy Wilkins and Anna Jones

Skip To Latest Live Text

1.

1303:

Welcome to the BBC News live coverage of the final Atlantis shuttle launch. We'll be bringing you all the build-up for the launch, including expert views, details of the final preparations and the excitement on the ground in Florida.

2.

1305:

Atlantis is scheduled to take-off at 1126 local Florida time (1626 BST) on a mission to haul critical supplies to the International Space Station.

3.

1306:

It's been atrocious weather at Cape Canaveral in the past day, with torrential rain, thunder and lightning on Thursday. Nasa officials were saying there was just a 30 percent chance of lift-off on Friday, but preparations are continuing.

4.

1306:

The Atlantis crew began suiting up at about 0700 local time (1200 BST) before heading out to the launch site. The orange suits provide air, pressure and pockets for survival tools and other items. They are quite bulky so the crew are helped by suit technicians from the astronauts' home base at Johnson Space Center.

5.

1308:

Friday's ascent, if it goes ahead, will be the 135th and last in the 30-year orbiter programme. It will be the 33rd flight for Atlantis.

6.

1310:

Come rain or shine, thousands of people are expected in the area to view the take-off. Some estimates put the crowd at 1 million people.