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Shuttle Atlantis Lands Safely After Final Official Mission

Posted by timothy on from the now-it's-time-for-unofficial-joyrides dept.

saintory writes "Shuttle Atlantis landed this morning after flying its final official mission. In its 25-year service, the shuttle Atlantis has logged over 120 million miles." After a successful mission to deliver a research module to the International Space Station, the craft landed at Kennedy Space Center, and will "go through the normal flow of prelaunch preparations in order to serve as the 'launch-on-need' vehicle for Endeavour's STS-134 mission, the last scheduled flight of the Space Shuttle Program." Congratulations to the people aboard and on the ground who engineered the shuttle's successful return.

5 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. Welcome home. by Pojut · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Thank you for your years of service, Atlantis. You will be forever remembered :( Billions in bank bailouts, billions in healthcare....but ~$20 billion for NASA? Out of the question!

    --
    Living With a Nerd
  2. really? by Thud457 · · Score: 5, Funny

    final official mission?

    WTF are Billy-Bob and Jethro going to take it for a joyride when Ferris foolishly leaves it at a downtown Chicago parking garage?

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

    1. Re:really? by Binestar · · Score: 5, Informative

      Atlantis is the "Emergency Rescue" shuttle for the last 2 missions, so it is possible she could fly up and recover astronauts stranded due to tile damage in one of the last 2 missions.

      --
      Do you Gentoo!?
  3. For Sale by KiwiCanuck · · Score: 5, Funny

    1985 Space Shuttle (Atlantis), good condition, auto, A/C, seats 5, 52,250lbs payload, 120 million miles ("highway"), very fast ride 17,320mph, many new upgrades, serious enquiries only.

  4. It will all be worth it... by mr_nazgul · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Space is a dangerous challenge, but the rewards will be worth it. In the end, all of man kind will benefit.
    "A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner."

    --
    Good.. Bad.. I'm the guy with the gun.