Space shuttle Atlantis returns
Space shuttle Atlantis and the four astronauts return from the International Space Station on Thursday, July 21, 2011, bringing an end to NASA's 30-year shuttle journey. STS-135 is the final shuttle mission to the orbital laboratory. NASA is ending its shuttle program with Atlantis' successful space station resupply mission. It is the 135th flight in shuttle history.
Section:Picture story
This image provided by NASA of the International Space Station was taken by a member of Atlantis’ STS-135 crew during a fly around as the shuttle departed the station on Tuesday, July 19, 2011.
NASA Associated Press
In this Thursday, July 21, 2011 picture made available by NASA, the space shuttle Atlantis returns to earth, photographed by the crew of the International Space Station.
NASA Associated Press
Spectators watch as the space shuttle Atlantis lands at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, completing STS-135, the final mission of the NASA shuttle program, on Thursday, July 21, 2011.
Houston Chronicle, Smiley N. Pool Associated Press
Space Shuttle Atlantis lands at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. Thursday, July 21, 2011.
Scott M. Lieberman Associated Press
Space Shuttle Atlantis lands at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. Thursday, July 21, 2011.
Florida Today, Craig Rubadoux) Associated Press
Kenny Fisher, right, takes a photograph as his sister, Ashley, left, looks over his shoulder as they wait at Johnson Space Center in Houston to watch space shuttle Atlantis land at Kennedy Space Center, Thursday, July 21, 2011.
David J. Phillip Associated Press
The drag chute is deployed as the space shuttle Atlantis lands at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, completing STS-135, the final mission of the NASA shuttle program, on Thursday, July 21, 2011.
Houston Chronicle, Smiley N. Pool Associated Press
Space Shuttle Atlantis lands at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, July 21, 2011.
Florida Today, Craig Rubadoux Associated Press
Grace Calhoun, 16, of Nashville, front, screams with joy while watching the Space Shuttle Atlantis land at Space Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center at U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala, Thursday, July 21, 2011.
The Huntsville Times, Eric Schultz Associated Press
Space shuttle Atlantis lands at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. Thursday, July 21, 2011.
James Nielsen, Houston Chronicle Associated Press
Shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach, right, hugs LeRoy Cain, deputy space shuttle program manager, after the space shuttle Atlantis lands at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida completing STS-135, the final mission of the NASA shuttle program, on Thursday, July 21, 2011.
Houston Chronicle, Smiley N. Pool Associated Press
The space shuttle Atlantis is towed back to the Orbiter Processing Facility after returning to the Kennedy Space Center early Thursday morning, July 21, 2011, bringing a safe end to three decades of the space shuttle program.
Florida Today, Craig Rubadoux Associated Press
Duncan Stevens of London, England, gets some photos of the space shuttle Atlantis as it is towed back to the Orbiter Processing Facility after returning to the Kennedy Space Center early Thursday, July 21, 2011, bringing a safe end to three decades of the space shuttle program.
Florida Today, Craig Rubadoux Associated Press
Space shuttle Atlantis is towed to the Orbitor Processing facility for decommissioning at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, July 21, 2011.
Terry Renna Associated Press
Barbara Brown, of Titusville. Fla. a NASA employee since 1983, joins others as space shuttle Atlantis is towed at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. Thursday, July 21, 2011.
Terry Renna Associated Press
Space shuttle Atlantis is towed to the Orbitor Processing facility for decommissioning at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, July 21, 2011.
John Raoux Associated Press
Space shuttle Atlantis is moved into the Orbiter Processing Facility following its landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, July 21, 2011.
John Raoux Associated Press
Commander Chris Ferguson point to tiles under space shuttle Atlantis after landing at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. Thursday, July 21, 2011.
Scott Audette, Pool Associated Press
STS-135 commander Chris Ferguson, left, and mission specialist Sandra Magnus, smile during a post landing news conference at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. Thursday, July 21, 2011.
J. Pat Carter Associated Press
STS-135 pilot Doug Hurley gives a thumbs up during the post landing news conference at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. Thursday, July 21, 2011.
J. Pat Carter Associated Press