The US space shuttle Atlantis has been launched from Florida. The orbiter soared into blue skies above the Kennedy Space Center, leaving the pad on Friday. Its 12-day mission will take it to the International Space Station, ISS where it will deliver a Russian module. Only two further flights remain after this one by Discovery and Endeavour. NASA is trying to get these missions concluded before the end of the year. The orbiter fleet will then be retired to museums. <br/> Large numbers of people had gathered to see Atlantis go. The ship climbed to orbit without apparent problem, shutting down its main engines eight-and-a-half minutes after leaving Kennedy and having reached an altitude of 120 nautical miles. <br/> <br/>