(NECN: Anya Huneke, VT) - You'd be hard-pressed to find signs of the slow economy at one Vermont company. Business at Triosyn, which develops technology for the military and the general public to fight infection, has been booming -- with a few current events playing a role in the company's success.

Shane Brunell got a job as a machine operator at the Triosyn Corporation in Williston, Vermont, this summer.

In a down economy, he knows he's in an unusual position: he's a recent hire.

And, he's working for a business that's thriving.

(NECN: Cape Canaveral, Fla.) - Space shuttle Atlantis blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, this afternoon and is headed for the International Space Station.

There are six astronauts on board and a full load of spare parts.

The shuttle will reach the orbiting outpost Wednesday.

The supply run should keep the space station humming for years to come, and the shuttle astronauts will be in space through Thanksgiving. The crew will perform three spacewalks during the 11-day mission.

(NECN/ABC) - The planned liftoff for space shuttle Atlantis is just a couple of hours away. The astronauts are suited up and everything seems on schedule.

Forecasters put the odds of acceptable weather at 70 percent, not nearly as good as previous days. Low clouds were the main concern for the 2:28 p.m. liftoff.

The six astronauts grinned and waved as they headed to the launch pad late Monday morning. Commander Charles Hobaugh was the first one into the shuttle.

Atlantis is loaded with big spare parts for the International

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - NASA has fueled space shuttle Atlantis for an afternoon liftoff to the space station, despite increasingly cloudy skies.

Officials say there's a 70 percent chance of acceptable weather for Monday's launch at 2:28 p.m. Low clouds were the main concern.

The six astronauts woke up around the time fueling got under way well before dawn. Three hours later, the external fuel tank was full and the countdown right on track.

Atlantis is loaded with big spare parts for the International

(NECN: Scot Yount - Boston, Mass.) - A destructive species of beetles has already ruined tens of thousands of trees in Worcester, Massachusetts.

On Sunday, volunteers in Boston and Springfield are being trained to spot the Asian Longhorned Beetle.

There have been no confirmed report of the beetles in either city, but the spread of the infestation in the Worcester area has officials concerned.

NECN reporter Scot Yount has more from Boston, Massachusetts.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - NASA's countdown is going smoothly and even the weather is looking exceptionally good for Monday's space shuttle launch.

Atlantis is scheduled to blast off at 2:28 p.m. Monday with tons of spare parts for the International Space Station. Forecasters put the odds of acceptable weather at 90 percent.

That's also good news for Kennedy Space Center's first "tweetup." About 100 space fans have gathered to report the launch on Twitter.

NASA test director Steve Payne said Sunday morning that even

(NECN/NASA/ABC) - NASA's big experiment last month to find water on the moon - worked!

Scientists say they're "ecstatic" that last month's L-Cross experiment to significant amounts of water on the moon did just what it was supposed to do.

For NASA the discovery means it is possible to build a base on the moon - then live off the land.

ABC's Sonia Azad explains more about the experiment with video from NASA.

(NECN) - It is no secret that obesity continues to be a growing problem for Americans, and, it turns out that our pets are gaining weight right along with us.

Click here to visit the museum's Web site.

Joining NECN from the Museum of Science in Boston is Dr. Lisa Freeman of Tufts University for a discussion.

(NECN: Ted McEnroe) - If you thought all those people updating their Facebook status were wasting their time - you clearly haven't met Rodney Bradford.

(NECN: Ted McEnroe) - A Massachusetts-based company is working to develop a mobile application that could someday allow you to get a diagnosis for a cough - by coughing into your phone.