Article Posted on : - May 15, 2010

Liftoff of space shuttle Atlantis on its STS-132 mission. Launch was on time at 2:20 p.m. (EDT). A NASA Photo.

CAPE CANAVERAL (BNS): After a successful launch Friday at 2:20 p.m. (EDT), the STS-132 crew of space shuttle Atlantis began on-orbit operations.

The six astronauts will survey Saturday, the shuttle's heat shield, checkout the spacesuits for the upcoming spacewalks and prepare for docking to the International Space Station on Sunday, according to a NASA release.

Space shuttle Atlantis is embarking on its final planned mission. During the 12-day flight, Atlantis and six astronauts will fly to the International Space Station, leaving behind a Russian Mini Research Module, a set of batteries for the station's truss and dish antenna, along with other replacement parts.

Atlantis' 32nd flight is scheduled to last 12 days and include three spacewalks and extensive robotics work.

NASA astronaut Ken Ham is the commander of an all-veteran flight crew that includes Pilot Tony Antonelli, and Mission Specialists Michael Good, Garrett Reisman, Piers Sellers and Steve Bowen.

Based on the present plans, Atlantis's launch will be one of the last three missions of NASA's shuttle programme due to be mothballed at the end of the year. Only two more shuttle launches remain: one in September for Discovery and the final blast off for Endeavour in November.