The U.S. space shuttles Atlantis along with its 7 astronauts are back on earth, after a smooth landing at Florida's Kennedy Space Center. The 11 day flight resupplied the International Space Station and was one of the last for the shuttle program. As Atlantis glided toward a landing in the morning sunshine, Commander Charles Hobaugh commented on the favorable weather. "Could not have picked a clearer day," he said.
Moments later, the shuttle landed on time, and Charles Hobaugh and the other astronauts were welcomed home by Mission Control in Houston, Texas.Astronaut Nicole Stott had been living at the International Space Station for 3 months. Fellow crew member Randolph Bresnik is looking forward to meet his baby daughter, who was born previous week.
This was the 129th U.S. space shuttle flight, also the 31st to the space station. It was the 1st mission devoted to stocking the station with spare parts. Atlantis also brings back broken equipment from the station's water-recycling system. It leaves the space station 86 % complete.
The shuttle circled Earth 171 times on this mission, for a whole of about 7.2 million kilometers. This was Atlantis' next-to-last mission. Just five shuttle flights remains, and all will go to the space station next year.
The next shuttle flight will occur in February, as Endeavour delivers a complete cupola for watching the Earth.
The next shuttle flight will occur in February, as Endeavour delivers a complete cupola for watching the Earth.
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