STS-135 crew module camera: astronauts rocket off the launch pad

The last space shuttle external tank in existence, headed from the New Orleans manufacturing plant to the California Science Center for the vertical launch pad display of the retired orbiter Endeavour, has passed through the Panama Canal.

Awe-inspiring onboard video views of Atlantis’ launch captured from cameras mounted on the solid rocket boosters. Check out these amazing videos of the spacecraft soaring to orbit on the final space shuttle mission.

A cargo-delivery module packed with 9,400 pounds of food, equipment and science gear departed shuttle Atlantis’ payload bay on July 11, 2011 and parked at the International Space Station’s doorway for unloading.