The Atlantis astronauts are back on terra firma in California after a fifth and final mission to service the NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. And mission commander Scott Altman is glad to be back.
"When we got down to Florida (for launch)," I looked at everybody and said, 'At last!' Altman said after his crew inspected Atlantis on Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base in California.Of course, Altman was referring to the two-and-a-half years his seven-member crew trained for a mission that was ready to launch last October and then was delayed so a spare Hubble science instrument controller could be flown.
"I didn't realize it was going to be so hard to get back to the Earth in the end. So again, I guess I say the same thing, 'At last!' We're back on the ground."
Altman and his crew gathered for a photo opp on the landing strip, and he said he was happy to be at the Mojave Desert military base."It's great to be here at Edwards Air Force Base and NASA Dryden (Flight Research Center). Having this facility for us to come home to today is just awesome," he said.
"It was beautiful weather. We saw the field from about 100 miles out, and landing here just felt great to everybody. So we're all thrilled to have the mission complete. It was a testament to the teamwork and cooperation of folks all across the country, and we want to thank everybody."
Click read more to see additional photos of the astronauts after they stepped out on to Runway 22 to inspect the spaceship.
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