The Space Shuttle Atlantis roared into space Friday. Many Southern Tier residents tuned in to watch Apalachin-native Doug Hurley pilot the final mission. Our Carmen Perez spoke with leaders at the Kopernik Observatory in Vestal to get their take on the final mission and what is in store for the future.

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While nearly a million watched from the ground, it's likely even more watched the historic moment from a television or computer screen;like Drew Deskur.

"Today is sort of a bittersweet day. We always knew this day was coming."

Drew is the director at the Kopernik Observatory in Vestal and like so many, he says he is sad to see the program end, but is also excited for the future, especially for kids.

"It is a great teachable moment because it is a great opportunity to show that there is a life cycle," said Deskur.

The Kopernik observatory offers year round educational programming and camps hoping to spark young people's interest in sciences.

"Some aspect of science or technology that might take them in a place that they might not have otherwise chosen to head," said Deskur.

Leaders at kopernik say that even though the space shuttle program is coming to an end, they want young people to know that the possibilities in space are endless."

"The space shuttle program is only the beginning. You know it is the first flight," said Tish Bresee who heads school programming at the observatory and is also the NASA Solar Systems Ambassador.

Using the four astronauts that have come out of the Southern Tier as examples, leaders are saying the door is just beginning to open to a great future for young people.

"We need rocket designers, we need space suit design, we need people who can come up with new robotics," said Bresee.

Hopeful that as the last shuttle orbits the Earth, there are wide open possibilities for the future.

To find out more about the programs offered at the Kopernik Observatory and Science Center visit: kopernik.org.