COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- A Mount Juliet High School and Tennessee Tech University alum is piloting a space shuttle mission to the International Space Station.

Related: Watch This Story

NASA pushed back the launch by four days to Monday. Officials said they needed more time for a test flight of its new rocket.

Barry Wilmore, who graduated from Mount Juliet High School in 1981, is piloting the Atlantis shuttle.

"I knew he was going to fly. My sister worked for NASA for a short period of time. She saw his name come up on the list, and I've kind of been watching it for a few years. Now, to see that he's really going to do it, it's very exciting," said Wilmore's high school classmate Linda Pierce.

Wilmore invited two of his teachers, who are still on staff at Mount Juliet High School, to witness the take off from Cape Canaveral. A student made the trip as well.

There are already plans in the works for a homecoming celebration at the school.

The mission ends Nov. 27.

Reporter Josh DeVine contributed to this story.