Space shuttle lands for last time

To view this site, you need to have Flash Player 8.0 or later installed. Click here to get the latest Flash player.


CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Space shuttle Atlantis is about to wrap up its flying career.

Atlantis and its six-man crew are scheduled to land Wednesday morning in Florida and end NASA’s third-to-last shuttle flight. Mission Control says rain could interfere, however, and keep the shuttle in orbit an extra day.

The lead flight directors for the space station delivery mission flew in from Houston to welcome Atlantis and its astronauts home. Touchdown is scheduled for 8:48 a.m.

Shortly after midnight, Atlantis sailed pass the 120-million-mile mark in space, accumulated over 32 flights and 25 years. Only two missions remain, by NASA’s two other shuttles. NASA is pushing for one more flight for Atlantis, which would need White House approval.