By FLORIDA TODAY Space shuttle Atlantis touched down at Kennedy Space Center early Wednesday, ending a 12-day mission that could be the orbiter's final space voyage.
The six-man crew landed at 8:48 a.m., flying over Central America, Cuba and the east coast of Florida for a picture perfect landing under bright blue skies - proceeded by the shuttle's trademark double sonic booms."That looked pretty sweet for you and your crew," radioed Charlie Hobaugh from mission control in Houston as the shuttle touched down at KSC. "We're glad to have you back."
Atlantis flew 4,879,978 miles on this mission, and more than 120 million miles in its 32-mission career.
The returning crew included Commander Ken Ham, Pilot Tony Antonelli and mission specialists Garrett Reisman, Steve Bowen, Mike Good and Piers Sellers.
The shuttle brought supplies and spares to the International Space Station to ensure the outpost can continue to function after the shuttle fleet retires, scheduled for later this year. The crew performed three spacewalks, including switching out batteries that had powered the station for the last decade.
Atlantis lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on its first attempt on May 14.
Now the shuttle will be prepared as a rescue vehicle in case the fleet's final mission, to be flown by Endeavour, gets into trouble.
There is some talk of granting Atlantis one more flight - another resupply mission to the station - since it will be all-but-ready anyway.
But that would cost between $600 million and $800 million, and no approval has been given.
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