NASA lays off space shuttle workers

As the space shuttle Atlantis makes its final flight, NASA readies the pink slips.

With the space shuttle program ending after the final mission of the Atlantis, NASA is laying off workers who no longer have a function at the space agency, reports Space.com. About 6,700 NASA employees worked on the shuttle program, but many of them will now be let go, John Shannon, NASA's shuttle program officer, said in the Space.com article.

The end of the program is expected to lead to layoffs at contractors as well, according to Space.com.