An original delivery image of Atlantis.
NASA’s spacecraft, Atlantis (referred to internally as ‘OV-104′ within the space agency), touched down early this morning just before the sun came up on the east coast of the United States. This also marks the final time for the foreseeable future that NASA will launch a manned-spacecraft beyond our atmosphere into space.
Atlantis served the United States from 1985 through this year, 2011.
Chris Ferguson, the commander of Atlantis said, “The space shuttle changed the way we view the world and it changed the way we view the Universe.”
There is a general question overhanging the suspension of manned flights into space across the United States as the space shuttle program winds down completely, are we also to suspend investigation beyond our blue-sphere known as Earth? Furguson said to mission control across a radio, “There’s a lot of emotion today but one thing’s indisputable: America’s not going to stop exploring.”
Atlantis made its maiden voyage into space on October 3rd, 1985 – just one year prior to the disastrous Challenger explosion which occurred in 1986. There have been a lot of ‘ups & downs’ regarding America’s space shuttle program, fortunately it ends today on a positive note – even if somewhat sad.
Some of the hallmarks of accomplishment made by NASA’s space shuttle program was the construction of the International Space Station (ISS) and the maintenance of the Hubble telescope to name a couple.
Image Source: NASA.