CAPE CANAVERAL — Space shuttle Atlantis is poised to launch this morning and close NASA’s 30-year-long program. But you don’t need to combat 750,000 spectators, horrendous traffic or the bare elements to watch the liftoff and a 12-day space mission.

NASA offers full-HD streaming video on NASA TV of the STS-135 space shuttle mission (above), complete with acronym-filled commentary. But if space agency technobabble doesn’t sound appealing, tune in to one of our other favorite videocasts on Spaceflight Now or Spacevidcast (below).

Today’s launch attempt of the 100-ton spacecraft and its four-person crew is slated for 11:26 a.m. EDT. But weather continues to threaten delay as wave after wave of tropical storms moves through the region.

If NASA delays a Friday space shot, it may try again on Saturday at 10:59 a.m. EDT or Sunday at 10:38 a.m. EDT.

Monday, July 11 offers another chance for liftoff at 10:15 a.m. EDT, but a nearby GPS satellite could conflict until July 15 and push the launch to Saturday, July 16 at 8:16 a.m. EDT. The 10-minute launch window falls back 24 minutes each day to ensure the shuttle can meet up with the International Space Station.

The fun isn’t over after Atlantis lifts off. Return to this page to follow the 12-day-long mission full of space station construction and on-orbit experiments. NASA TV provides a play-by-play coverage plan at their mission schedule page.

Spaceflight Now

Former CNN space journalist Miles O’Brien provides an attractive middle ground somewhere between NASA’s jargon-rich feed and drama-rich TV news programs. Former astronaut Leroy Chiao often joins Miles on stage for the Spaceflight Now-partnered video feed (above).

Spacevidcast

Hosted by Benjamin and Cariann Higginbotham, Spacevidcast provides live, down-to-Earth mission commentary and often takes viewer questions (above).

Image: Space shuttle Atlantis rockets into orbit on Dec. 2, 1988 for NASA’s top-secret STS-27 mission. (NASA) [high-resolution version available]

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