REVscene Automotive Forum - Space Shuttle Atlantis Lifts off on Supply Mission

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Space shuttle Atlantis rocketed into orbit Monday with six astronauts and a full load of spare parts for the International Space Station. The supply run should keep the space station humming for years to come, and the shuttle astronauts in space through Thanksgiving.

Atlantis shot into a partly cloudy afternoon sky, to the delight of about 100 Twittering space enthusiasts who won front-row seats. It was NASA's first launch "tweetup," and the invitees splashed news — mostly tweeting "wow" and "amazing" about the liftoff — over countless cell phones and computers.

"We wish you good luck, Godspeed, and we'll see you back here just after Thanksgiving," launch director Mike Leinbach told shuttle commander Charles Hobaugh right before liftoff.

Atlantis will reach the space station Wednesday. As the shuttle blasted off, the station was soaring 220 miles above the South Pacific.

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