STS-125 Landing

Space shuttle Atlantis landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California at 11:39 a.m. EDT, on 24th May 2009, completing a 13-day journey of approximately 5.3 million miles in space.

During a press conference held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Associate Administrator for NASAs Science Mission Directorate Ed Weiler said, "Now, and only now can we declare this mission a total success -- the astronauts are safely on the ground."

Weiler called NASA's Hubble Space Telescope the great comeback story. He said the public continues to be captivated by the telescope's images of the universe and he hopes to see Hubble operate into its third decade of service.

NASA Launch Integration Manager Mike Moses agreed that this was a fantastic mission. "It's good to have Atlantis back here on the ground," said Moses. He also said the crew did a great job trying to get the shuttle back to Kennedy, even though the weather wouldn't cooperate.

Mike Leinbach, NASA space shuttle launch director, congratulated the STS-125 crew and also commended the crew members who were ready and standing by in case space shuttle Endeavour was needed for a rescue mission.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• STS-125
• STS125
• STS
• 125
• Landing
• Space
• Shuttle
• Atlantis

[MewFushisDad]

What an amazing versatile space craft.

A beautiful piece of art.

Mankind at our best.

[twothlesswonder]

Beatiful textbook landing!

Thank you NASA and ESA! I look forward to a new set of discoveries by Hubble...

Thanks for uploading all of these, BTQ!

[joachim2464]

@brg73 6 trips to the moon and back:)

[brg73]

that thing dropped like a brick. 5 million miles. Imagine one man driving that much on earth...

[kittypie070]

I was pretty anxious to see Atlantis home.

Heard the double sonic booms, I was watching the landing on APOD-NASATV link, they shook the place, I mean no nonsense they were not messing around BOOM BOOM!!!

Everyone came out of the other apartments and were going "What was that?" and I called to them from second floor window "It's Atlantis, it's the space shuttle, she's coming home *here*

to Edwards!!"

[hyhhy]

Incredible machine, I gotta say. Will be remembered hundreds of years from now.

[Slugmabug]

I just love the controller at about 8:30

[Rotflesss]

gratz :)

[belisariusorb]

Congratulations on a great mission well handled after such a long wait. We hope for much more fantastic stuff from Hubble

[EmilyTheGreat80]

Thanks for uploading this so fast. I was busy with other things so I missed the landing.