jay barbree will join us later in the show. jay, of course, a legend in this business. there's some old clips. he has been there for every space launch dating back to 1961. 50 proud years for those of you keeping score at home. >>> but first we want to get to the news right now live at 5:30 a.m. here at 30 rock in new york city. with this deadline 12 days away, there are new efforts to he can brotherer a deficit deal as top congressional leaders from both parties return to the white house. the administration calling yesterday's meetings with democratic leaders and then later with house republican leaders john boehner and eric cantor, quote, productive. and now there is word the idea of a major $4 trillion deal may be back on the table. this comes amid reports that president obama may be open to a short-term hike in the debt ceiling. jay carney says any extension would be, to use his language, a few days. that would be just enough time to allow a more comprehensive deal to get through congress, something that carney says the obama administration is working towards. >> we

and tom, you why final thoughts before we send it back to new york. >> i would only say as to jay barbree, jay -- i stepped into this role covering space about six years ago, and jay has been nothing but kind and giving and always has an incredible story and more information and more instant recall than anybody i know. his perspective is so valuable. but as it relates to america's commitment to the space program, you know, budgetarily we still are pretty much where we were before. the issue is this fight, this argument over what is america's -- what's the government's role, how much should the government be involved versus the private sector. and at the moment the administration has decided to give the private sector the chance to low earth orbit. a lot of people including the former administrator of nasa thinks the private sector isn't ready yet and that eventually nasa's going to have to come back. >> we'll see. >> but that's for later down the road. >> that's all to be worked out. but in the meantime, we just witnessed the four-person crew of "atlantis" on what jay barbree so beautiful

we also talked to our own jay barbree. jay has covered space for this network for 53 years.his final launch will be the 166th space mission he has covered. so tonight, two veterans of the space program in their own words. >> you have feelings of nostalgia, but on a bigger picture, i'm sorry we're not maximizing the research return out of the space program, the international space station is the most unique laboratory ever put together by human beings. it also means without the shuttle, we have no way of getting into space ourselves. so we're sending our astronauts over to russia to have them put our people in the soyuz, which for the world's greatest space faring nation as we say, that's just not the answer to me. >> top space officials -- after 53 years with nbc news and covering all 165 space flights, it is the end of an era. it's the end of the space shuttle that we've all grown used to. but it's time for another space race. it's time now to move into commercial space flight and it's time to move into deep space. i think about everyone in the space family wants to see tha

. >> nbc's veteran space correspondent jay barbree has covered every single manned flight since 1958.for jay? he is going to join me next live. but first, here is another shuttle trivia question for you. what was significant about the "atlantis mission on june 29th, 1995? we are going to tell you when we come back, and you can tweet me your answer, if you have got one. ♪ ugh, my feet are killin' me. well, we're here to get you custom orthotic inserts. dr. scholl's custom fit orthotic center recommends the custom-fit orthotic that's best for your tired feet. foot-care scientists are behind it. you'll get all-day relief. for your tired achy feet. for locations, see drscholls.com. thank you... with new extra-strength bayer advanced aspirin. it has microparticles, enters the bloodstream faster and rushes relief to the site of pain. it's clinically proven to relieve pain twice as fast. new bayer advanced aspirin. >>> we are back with the answer to our trivia question, and we ask what was special about the "atlantis flight on june 29th, 1995? well, that flight was not only the 100th manned

. >> jay barbree, a historic day. be checking back with you every hour until we see this "atlantis" go up. as we follow this last mission of the shuttle. jay, good to see you, sir. >> reporter: thank you. >>> well, another 7 million bucks is being poured into political attack ads this week. this time the target moves to capitol hill, the conservative group american crossroads has already blasted president obama and just today began a campaign targeting several democrat being senators up for reelection in 2012, the war being wage d. it's like it's october 2012 if you just watched these outside groups. >> right. as the latest jobs report showed, a lot of people may be struggling to get out of this recession, but a lot of money is being spent right now on campaigns and are going to continue to be spent on campaigns and a lot of that money is coming from outside groups who don't play by the same rules as candidates and other committees. >> reporter: outside groups can often raise unlimited funds from aanonymous donors. in

and a mn who covered every space mission is our friend nbc's jay barbree, and we talked about this a lot when i was there for the launch, and people want to know what is next? what is the focus for nasa as we move ahead? >> well, tamron, we wish you would have been with us today. it was a perfect landing and everybody here regardless of the sad situation of the job losses, they are upbeat about what is coming up, and they expect our hope to get back into space with a commercial spacecraft in 2014, 2015, are relying on the heavy vehicle machine orion which will take them beyond. and this won't be until 2016 they start, but going into 2025 or 2026 or 2027 area. that is what they are talking about. but of everything that has been done in the 50 years here, the actual highlight of the 166 flights that we have covered, of course, has been theollo"apollo flights and i have on the msnbc.com on the science and technology page an article entitled "no hoax, apollo for real, the highlight for nasa" and we debungt all of the theories saying that the ast astronauts did not do it with the moon, an

nbc's veteran state correspondent jay barbree has been there to witness each and every launch. no different. jay, what did it feel like today to be there for this final launch? >> reporter: well, you know, matt, it really didn't feel much different than before because actually i won't feel the finality to it until they come back and land 12 days or 13 days if they can extend the mission. then when that "atlantis" touches down on the runway and it rolls to a stop, then you will believe that the program, i guess, is over. but it was an exciting day with having to dodge the weather, but they made it into orbit. they've been up there now five hours and ten minutes and all is going well. they should be docking with the station on sunday. >> you know, jay, i feel a little wistful when you look at this because it's always been one of those touchstones for american leadership and innovation. does this mean if this program is behind us that something important is ending for country? >> yes, there's something important ending for the country. we've been learning how to live in space. we,

. >> that's a good way to end it, jay barbree. you better not be going anywhere.e we aren't launching the space shuttle doesn't mean we don't want you right here with us at nbc and msnbc. >> thank you, my friend. thank you, my friend. >>> up next, after a week of monty pythonesque drama in the british parliament, rupert murdoch returns to the united states. is that phone hacking scandal following him across the pond? >>> plus, keeping the faith. our "the daily rundown" look at the lives in the caucuses. why beliefs could make or break republican presidential hopefuls? watching "the daily rundown" only on msnbc. for driving safely.othing truth: at allstate, you get a check in the mail twice a year, every year you don't have an accident. the safe driving bonus check. dollar for dollar, nobody protects you like allstate. they're itchy, dry and uncomfortable. i can't wait to take 'em out, throw 'em away and never see them again. [ male announcer ] know the feeling? get the contacts you've got to see to believe. acuvue® oasys brand contact lenses with hydraclear® plus

. >> nbc's jay barbree is live from florida. >> wish you would with us. >> you mentioned the fact, tomorrowon, that today is the 42nd anniversary of neil armstrong taking those first steps on the moon, and would i like to tell everybody on msnbc.com at the technology science page today, i've got a piece on there i would like to direct you to. it knocks down all of these beliefs that we never went to the moon. all of it is knocked down today. it's called "no hopes, moon landing stands as nasa's finest hour." >> that's incredible in itself that you still have to knock down this belief, but there are folks out there, for whatever reason, subscribe to that conspiracy, so i'm happy you're able to try to debunk it. i don't think it will change their minds because i think those people are out there in another universe, to say the least. >> i think you're right. >> talk to me a little bit about the landing tomorrow. what is it, around 5:00 a.m.? >> it's at 5:56.58 to be precise. that's three minutes and two seconds before 6:00 eastern time. if they can't get in on the first try for some reason, tam

it will be 166 for me and i hope to be here for 167. >> reporter: we love jay barbree. if we go again anytime soon, it will be on board a commercial space vehicle but that could be four to five years away. ann, in the meantime, american astronauts will be catching a ride to the space station with the russians. back to you. >> tom costello this morning, thank you so much. nbc news will bring you live coverage of the launch if and when it happens later this morning. it is now 7:19. once again here's david. >>> ann, thanks very much. today marks a first for the duchess of cambridge. kate is set to visit the united states for the very first time following a whirlwind tour through canada. nbc's peter alexander has the good assignment. he's been following the royal couple's trip every step of the way. he's in beverly hills with the latest this morning. hey, peter. >> reporter: david, good morning to you. the royals official coming to america tour officially begins this afternoon. they arrive at l.a.x., greeted by l.a.'s mayor antonio villaraigosa and the governor of the state