Shuttle Atlantis returns safely to end its last mission
May 26th, 2010 - 10:54 pm ICT by BNO NewsCAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA (BNO NEWS) – NASA on Wednesday announced the end of Space shuttle Atlantis’ 12-day journey after it landed for the last time at 8:48 a.m. EDT.
Six astronauts boarded space shuttle Atlantis 12 days ago to begin the third of five shuttle missions planned for 2010, traveled over 4.8 million miles, and returned Wednesday morning, landing at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to mark the shuttle’s last mission.
The mission, designated STS-132, which marks the 132nd shuttle flight, the 32nd flight for Atlantis and the 34th shuttle mission dedicated to station assembly and maintenance, delivered the Russian-built Mini Research Module-1 to the International Space Station. Also known as Rassvet (“dawn” in Russian), the module provides additional storage space and a new docking port for Russian Soyuz and Progress spacecraft.
The mission also included three spacewalks, which focused on replacing and installing components outside the station, including replacing six batteries, installing a communications antenna and adding parts to the Canadian Dextre robotic arm.
Ken Ham commanded the flight and was joined by Pilot Tony Antonelli and Mission Specialists Garrett Reisman, Michael Good, Steve Bowen and Piers Sellers. A welcome ceremony for the astronauts, which is open for public attendance, will be held Thursday, May 27, in Houston, Texas. The event is scheduled for 4 p.m. CDT at Ellington Field’s NASA Hangar 276.
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