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Atlantis shuttle returns to Earth Atlantis shuttle returns to Earth
(19 minutes later)
The space shuttle Atlantis has touched down safely in Florida, ending a 12-day mission to re-start construction of the International Space Station (ISS).The space shuttle Atlantis has touched down safely in Florida, ending a 12-day mission to re-start construction of the International Space Station (ISS).
The shuttle made a perfect landing on runway 33 at Nasa's Kennedy Space Center just after 0621 EDT (1021 GMT).The shuttle made a perfect landing on runway 33 at Nasa's Kennedy Space Center just after 0621 EDT (1021 GMT).
"Nice to be back. It was a great team effort. Assembly is off to a good start," said Atlantis' commander Brent Jett after the landing.
The mission is the third shuttle flight since the Columbia disaster in 2003.
A planned return on Wednesday was postponed after astronauts spotted several mysterious objects floating in space outside the orbiter.A planned return on Wednesday was postponed after astronauts spotted several mysterious objects floating in space outside the orbiter.
But inspections found no damage to the spacecraft from the nearby debris. But inspections found no damage to the spacecraft from the nearby debris. And the US space agency was happy that none of the items posed a risk to the vehicle.
And the US space agency was happy that none of the items posed a risk to the vehicle.
Engine burnEngine burn
At 0514 EDT (0914 GMT) and orbiting at a speed of 29,000km/h (18,000 mph), Atlantis initiated a three-minute engine burn to commit the spacecraft for the trip back to Earth.At 0514 EDT (0914 GMT) and orbiting at a speed of 29,000km/h (18,000 mph), Atlantis initiated a three-minute engine burn to commit the spacecraft for the trip back to Earth.
A cockpit's eye-view shows the nighttime landingThe "de-orbit" burn slowed the shuttle's velocity by about 329km/h, just enough to slip the craft out of orbit and begin the plunge through Earth's atmosphere.A cockpit's eye-view shows the nighttime landingThe "de-orbit" burn slowed the shuttle's velocity by about 329km/h, just enough to slip the craft out of orbit and begin the plunge through Earth's atmosphere.
As the shuttle flew upside-down and backward over the Indian Ocean on its hour-long dive back to Earth, temperatures outside reached nearly 1,650 C (3,000F).As the shuttle flew upside-down and backward over the Indian Ocean on its hour-long dive back to Earth, temperatures outside reached nearly 1,650 C (3,000F).
The space station's new commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and Nasa science officer Jeff Williams watched the return from the ISS, reporting a bright plasma trail as Atlantis descended to Earth.The space station's new commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and Nasa science officer Jeff Williams watched the return from the ISS, reporting a bright plasma trail as Atlantis descended to Earth.
During Atlantis' stay at the ISS, crew members attached new solar wings to the space station - doubling its power generating capability. This was the first construction mission to the orbiting platform in four years, following the grounding of Nasa's fleet in the wake of the Columbia disaster. During Atlantis' stay at the ISS, crew members attached new solar wings to the space station - doubling its power generating capability. The shuttle and its six-strong crew left the ISS on Sunday.
The shuttle and its six-strong crew left the ISS on Sunday.
Holiday in spaceHoliday in space
On Wednesday, space tourist Anousheh Ansari and two other crew members of a Russian Soyuz spacecraft entered the space station after docking smoothly with the orbiting platform at 0121 EDT (0521 GMT).On Wednesday, space tourist Anousheh Ansari and two other crew members of a Russian Soyuz spacecraft entered the space station after docking smoothly with the orbiting platform at 0121 EDT (0521 GMT).
Controllers in Houston scrutinised the re-entry intentlyMs Ansari arrived at the station with Lopez-Alegria and Mikhail Tyurin - the relief crew for the ISS.Controllers in Houston scrutinised the re-entry intentlyMs Ansari arrived at the station with Lopez-Alegria and Mikhail Tyurin - the relief crew for the ISS.
The three new arrivals were greeted warmly by the station's current inhabitants, commander Pavel Vinogradov, Williams and European Space Agency (Esa) astronaut Thomas Reiter.The three new arrivals were greeted warmly by the station's current inhabitants, commander Pavel Vinogradov, Williams and European Space Agency (Esa) astronaut Thomas Reiter.
Ms Ansari, an American businesswoman, is the first female space tourist and the fourth private space traveller to visit the ISS following Dennis Tito, Mark Shuttleworth and Greg Olsen.Ms Ansari, an American businesswoman, is the first female space tourist and the fourth private space traveller to visit the ISS following Dennis Tito, Mark Shuttleworth and Greg Olsen.
The trio blasted off on 18 September on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.The trio blasted off on 18 September on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Ms Ansari's space holiday lasts until the end of the month. She will then come back to Earth with Vinogradov and Williams.Ms Ansari's space holiday lasts until the end of the month. She will then come back to Earth with Vinogradov and Williams.