Shuttle Atlantis makes its last landing
July 21st, 2011 - 8:04 pm ICT by Aishwarya BhattCape Canaveral, Fla, July 21 (THAINDIAN NEWS) America’s space shuttle program is getting closer to the end after 30 years. The launch of Atlantis earlier in the month marked the last time a space shuttle was sent to space.
After the assignment, Atlantis is heading back to the planet and the near-perfect weather has made things easy for the crew. A sizable crowd has gathered at the landing strip of NASA to watch the shuttle make the last descent.
The shuttle was manned by a four-crew member. The shuttle is expected to make the landing early on Thursday. The United States will bring the space shuttle program to a close after the landing of the Atlantis which is expected to touch down at exactly 5:56 am.
NASA’s Atlantis first traveled to space in 1985. The shuttle is the next-to-the youngest of the shuttles owned by NASA. It will be left to stand at the Kennedy Space Center where tourists will be given the opportunity to see it.
Atlantis was launched into space on the 8th of July. The crew did not experience any significant difficulties with the flight.
Commander Christopher Ferguson took charge of the last travel of the Atlantis. A crowd of about 2,000 have been permitted by NASA to witness the landing of Atlantis.
- Atlantis' landing ends final mission after 30 years of space shuttle era - Jul 21, 2011
- NASA's space shuttle Endeavour ends final mission - Jun 01, 2011
- NASA Prepares Shuttle Atlantis For Final Journey Into Space - May 14, 2010
- Atlantis docks for last time with International Space Station - Jul 11, 2011
- Space shuttle Discovery set to return to Earth for final time - Mar 08, 2011
- Atlantis docks with space station one last time - Jul 10, 2011
- Shuttle Endeavour lands safely - Jun 01, 2011
- Space shuttle Endeavour returns to Earth after final mission - Jun 01, 2011
- End of US shuttle programme to leave thousands out of work - Jul 08, 2011
- NASA transfers shuttle Discovery to museum - Apr 20, 2012
- NASA final shuttle launch scheduled for July 8 - May 21, 2011
- Challenger Disaster Victims Remembered By NASA - Jan 29, 2011
- NASA sets farewell shuttle launch July 8 - Jun 29, 2011
- Shuttle Atlantis lifts off for final time - Jul 08, 2011
- Atlantis starts home journey - May 23, 2010
Tags: cape canaveral, crew member, ferguson, flight commander, kennedy space center, landing strip, last time, launch, nasa, news america, perfect weather, shuttle atlantis, shuttles, sizable crowd, space shuttle program, tourists