Atlantis overcomes a shaky launch to become the final Nasa shuttle to blast into space

 Ready to roll: Atlantis crew members (from right to left) Commander Chris Ferguson, Rex Walheim, Doug Hurley and Sandra Magnus, head to shuttle Atlantis on launch pad 39-A for the final launch of the shuttle programme

 

 Up, up and away: The shuttle almost didn't get off the ground though, as the giant countdown clock at Kennedy Space Center stuck at 0.31seconds for what seemed like an eternity

 Off to the ISS: The shuttle was visible for 42 seconds before disappearing into the clouds

Best view in the house: Some of an estimated one million spectators watch the launch