Space Shuttle In Historic Final Blast-Off

The last ever space shuttle mission has blasted off in the US, despite an initial failure and concerns that bad weather might have stopped the launch.

The 135th mission ends 30 years in which the shuttle has become an American icon.

The last ever journey by space shuttle Atlantis will bring the biggest ever payload of supplies to keep the International Space Station (ISS) well stocked.

:: Key moments from the Space Shuttle's history

About one million people gathered in the area around Kennedy Space Centre in central Florida, keen for a last glimpse of the iconic craft that defined the US space programme for three decades and helped build the ISS.

The spectators were nearly disappointed as clouds and the threat of rain raised the possibility the 12-day mission might be delayed.

Skies cleared in time for lift-off, although there was a brief pause in the countdown due to a last-minute technical glitch. The launch finally went ahead at 4.29pm UK time.

Sky's Ian Woods, who was at the launch site in Cape Canaveral, said: "When the clock stopped with 31 seconds to go due to an initial problem we thought that was the end of it, but when it started again there was a huge cheer.

"It was such a heart-stopping moment."

The shuttle is bringing a cargo of food and equipment to the International Space Station and the four-member crew is scheduled to arrive on Sunday.

:: Explore a 3D model of the space shuttle

Nasa is ending the shuttle programme due to high costs and will have to rely on Russia to fly its astronauts to the station and a cost of more than \$50m (£31m) a seat.

The US space agency is also looking to develop space ships that can travel beyond the station's 220-mile orbit, where shuttles cannot go.