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Shuttle Atlantis Back Home

11-day mission to resupply International Space Station a success

By the Associated Press

Posted Nov 27, 2009 9:09 AM CST

(AP) – Space shuttle Atlantis and its seven astronauts are back on Earth. The shuttle landed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida this morning, swooping through a clear sky. The touchdown ended an 11-day flight in which the astronauts spent time stockpiling the International Space Station with big spare parts.

For Nicole Stott, it's the end of a 3-month station mission. She can't wait to see her husband and 7-year-old son, and eat pizza. Fellow astronaut Randolph Bresnik has even bigger plans: to hold his newborn daughter for the first time. But he'll have to wait until Saturday—wife Rebecca stayed home in Houston with their daughter and young son.

The International Space Station photographed from Atlantis after undocking.
The International Space Station photographed from Atlantis after undocking.   (AP Photo)
Space shuttle Atlantis lands on runway 33 at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Space shuttle Atlantis lands on runway 33 at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla.   (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
This image from NASA TV shows the Space Shuttle Atlantis doing it's fly around the International Space Station shortly after undocking.
This image from NASA TV shows the Space Shuttle Atlantis doing it's fly around the International Space Station shortly after undocking.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
cochiserocks
Nov 27, 2009 4:17 AM CST
Phew! It's always news when something goes wrong - so I get an enormous sense of relief whenever they make it back in one piece. John Glenn, the first American to go into orbit was asked what what went through his mind while he was crouched in the rocket nose-cone, awaiting blastoff. He replied " I was thinking that the rocket had twenty thousand components, and each was made by the lowest bidder" Good job indeed!
JGirl
Nov 27, 2009 4:12 AM CST
good job!

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

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