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Space shuttle Atlantis launched this  Monday.  Starting off the count down to the final 5 space shuttle missions.  Atlantis is due to use its large cargo capacity to bring up important spare parts to the international space station.  It is important for NASA to bring as many of the large spare parts as they can to the space station while the work horse space shuttles are still in service.  NASA has set the space shuttles to retire in 2010 after giving 30 years of service to NASA.  There have been a total of 6 space shuttles in the program.  Three of the six are due to have their final missions in 2010 and retire in working order.  Many concepts have emerged for new crew carriers to take men and equipment into space, but NASA has yet to announce its solid plans for the future of space exploration.  Many of the concepts however take into account the design of previous space missions taking many of the concepts (with new technology of course) of the Apollo era rockets.