Shuttle Crew Readies for Return to Earth
Their delivery and installation of a $1.4-billion laboratory on the international space station complete, the crew of the shuttle Atlantis packed for their return to Earth. Atlantis is scheduled to land this afternoon at Kennedy Space Center.
Thanks to the Atlantis crew, space station Alpha now has a fourth room. After dropping off the lab, Destiny, the astronauts got hundreds of pounds of trash and unused equipment to bring home. They were pleased with how well the mission went.
“I guess there’s been some anticipation, and fear along with it too, to do a good job and to get everything done,” said commander Kenneth Cockrell.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.