Space shuttle Atlantis lands safely in California

Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 02:57 in Astronomy & Space

Crew of seven astronauts completes successful 13-day mission to fix Hubble space telescopeThe space shuttle Atlantis and its crew of seven returned to Earth today, ending their successful Hubble space telescope repair mission in California after stormy weather prevented a return to Nasa's home base in Florida.Mission control waited as long as possible for the weather to improve before finally giving up and directing commander Scott Altman and his crew to the Mojave desert.Atlantis swooped through a clear morning sky and touched down on the runway at Edwards air force base."Welcome home, Atlantis," mission control radioed once the shuttle came to a safe stop. "Congratulations on a very successful mission giving Hubble a new set of eyes.""It was a thrill from start to finish," Altman replied. "We've had a great ride."After 13 days in orbit, many of them tending to Hubble, Altman and his crew were anxious to be back...

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