It was one year ago Sunday that Florida launched its last space shuttle.
Atlantis roared into the skies from the Kennedy Space Center on July 8, 2011.
It capped a 30-year program of sending astronauts into space aboard one of the space shuttles.
“A little nostalgic for me,” said Bill Ellis of Merritt Island. “I was there for the first [launch]. I only missed two out of all of them, and the last one was kind of a heartbreaker in a kind of way, knowing there wouldn’t be anymore.”
Even though the shuttles are now grounded, their legacy can be seen across Brevard County.
Images of the shuttles are on elementary schools, gift shops and even on sheriff patrol cruisers.
Gerry Mulberry worked on all of the shuttles during his three decade career at the space center.
“It was a really bittersweet type of thing. It’s been a big part of your whole life, growing up with the space shuttles and then all of a sudden to see the last one, it was pretty sad,” said Mulberry.
Mulberry was let go. He now works with his wife, who’s been operating Space Shirts, near the space center.
Although the business remains open, it’s not nearly as busy as a year ago.
The shuttle also represents jobs lost on the Space Coast, which not only included jobs at KSC but those at places like Shuttles Dugout Sports Bar and Grill.
NASA is now hoping to rely on commercial companies to get their astronauts to the International Space Station.
The retired Atlantis shuttle will be housed at KSC.