Uploaded July 2011 | Updated September 2026, 25 minutes ago
STS-135 Space Shuttle Atlantis final mission. A Picosat is deployed by Atlantis. Flight day 13 was the final full day in space for the STS-135 crew. They spent the day checking out the Atlantis' flight control surfaces and hot firing its reaction control system (RCS) jets, making sure everything is ready for deorbit. Mission managers cleared Atlantis' for entry after reviewing results of the "late inspection" survey of the shuttle's heat shield performed by crew on the flight day 12. Atlantis' crew also deployed a 8.2 lb (3.7 kg), 5-by 5-by 10-inch (250 mm) technology demonstration picosatellite into a low Earth orbit at around 360 km, called Pico-Satellite Solar Cell experiment (PSSC-2), from inside a spring ejection canister in the shuttle's payload bay. The picosatellite will relay data back on the performance of its solar cells based on new technology for analysis before possible use on future satellites. PSSC-2 deployment at 7:54 UTC was the 180th and final payload deployed in the shuttle history. Shortly after, CAPCOM astronaut Barry Wilmore from the ground congratulated the crew on the successful deployment. Mission specialist Rex Walheim marked the milestone by reciting an original poem. "Outstanding, Rex, we applaud you," Wilmore said amid cheers from the Houston Flight Control Room. After PSSC-2 was deployed, it was expected to use multiple on board megapixel cameras to take some last parting shots of Atlantis in orbit. These were to be the last photos of a space shuttle ever taken from space. This mission marks the end of the Space Shuttle Program.
STS-135 Space Shuttle Atlantis final mission. A Picosat is deployed by Atlantis. Flight day 13 was the final full day in space for the STS-135 crew. They spent the day checking out the Atlantis' flight control surfaces and hot firing its reaction control system (RCS) jets, making sure everything is ready for deorbit. Mission managers cleared Atlantis' for entry after reviewing results of the "late inspection" survey of the shuttle's heat shield performed by crew on the flight day 12. Atlantis' crew also deployed a 8.2 lb (3.7 kg), 5-by 5-by 10-inch (250 mm) technology demonstration picosatellite into a low Earth orbit at around 360 km, called Pico-Satellite Solar Cell experiment (PSSC-2), from inside a spring ejection canister in the shuttle's payload bay. The picosatellite will relay data back on the performance of its solar cells based on new technology for analysis before possible use on future satellites. PSSC-2 deployment at 7:54 UTC was the 180th and final payload deployed in the shuttle history. Shortly after, CAPCOM astronaut Barry Wilmore from the ground congratulated the crew on the successful deployment. Mission specialist Rex Walheim marked the milestone by reciting an original poem. "Outstanding, Rex, we applaud you," Wilmore said amid cheers from the Houston Flight Control Room. After PSSC-2 was deployed, it was expected to use multiple on board megapixel cameras to take some last parting shots of Atlantis in orbit. These were to be the last photos of a space shuttle ever taken from space. This mission marks the end of the Space Shuttle Program.
