Photo: NASA

The last rollout. Space Shuttle Atlantis heads for the launch pad. This will be the last launch of the program.  After this, if an American astronaut needs to get into space, he’ll have to hitch a ride with the Russians.  The USA will not have a manned launch vehicle for many years into the future.  Not the best planning, for a people that went from modified ICBMs to men on the Moon in ten years.