NASA clears Atlantis for final liftoff on Friday

(AP) -- Space shuttle Atlantis has been cleared for liftoff.

Mission managers on Wednesday gave the go-ahead for the countdown to proceed toward Friday afternoon's planned launch. It will be 32nd and final flight for Atlantis.

Everything is looking good for an on-time launch at 2:20 p.m. Managers are tracking no technical troubles, and forecasters say there's a 70 percent chance the weather will cooperate.

Atlantis will carry up spare parts for the International Space Station.

Only two shuttle missions remain after this one. NASA is retiring its three shuttles to focus on new technologies and rockets that could one day get astronauts to asteroids and Mars.

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