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The space shuttle Atlantis has made a perfect landing, bringing an end to
30 years of U.S. space shuttle missions.The crew of four astronauts aboard
Atlantis touched down just before 10:00 UTC at the Kennedy Space Center in the
southeastern state of Florida. Perfect weather conditions and a crowd of
hundreds welcomed the shuttle home.Commander Christopher Ferguson said that
after serving the world for more than 30 years, the space shuttle has earned its
place in history, and has come to a final stop. He said the shuttle has changed
the way the world and the universe are viewed.
Atlantis' 13-day mission capped off its 33rd and final flight after 26
years in service. The fourth shuttle in NASA's fleet, Atlantis first flew into
space in October 1985. The shuttle has made 200 orbits around Earth and a
journey of more than eight-and-a-half million kilometers.The crew departed from
the International Space Station on Tuesday after an eight-day visit to deliver a
year's worth of supplies, and haul trash and used equipment back to
Earth.Atlantis, as well as the other remaining shuttles, will be retired from
service and put on public display. |
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