Photo Gallery: Atlantis returns home

The shuttle Atlantis swooped into Kennedy Space Center early Thursday for a tire-smoking touchdown, closing out three decades of discovery and adventure for America's space shuttle program. Atlantis returned home at 5:57 a.m. EDT at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility. Photos: Spaceflight Now

Photo credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

 

Photo credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

 

Photo credit: Ben Cooper/Spaceflight Now

 

Photo credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

 

Photo credit: Ben Cooper/Spaceflight Now

 

Photo credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

 

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