In Cape Canaveral, Florida yesterday, the space shuttle Atlantis completed a 13-day cargo run to the International Space Station. It’s return also marked the end of NASA’s 30-year shuttle program. Atlantis touched down on the runway at 5:57 A.M., guided by Commander Chris Ferguson. The shuttle will now go on display as a museum piece. Ferguson called in to Mission Control as he landed, saying simply, "Mission complete, Houston."
Barry Wilmore, an astronaut working Mission Control replied back, "We’ll take this opportunity to congratulate you Atlantis, as well as the thousands of passionate individuals across this great space-faring nation who truly empowered this incredible spacecraft, which for three decades has inspired millions around the globe." The short mission was the 135th shuttle mission, and though there have been two fatal accidents in the 30-year shuttle program, it otherwise made the process of space travel seem relatively routine. After the last accident investigation took place, it was recommended that the shuttle be taken out of commission once the $100 billion International Space Station was completed.
In his historic comments to mark the end of an era, Ferguson noted, "Although we got to take the ride, we sure hope that everybody who has ever worked or touched or looked at or envied or admired a space shuttle was able to take just a little part of the journey with us." Unfortunately for a reeling economy, the retirement of the shuttle will also leave 3,200 of the 5,500 contract workers involved with the project out of work. There is no word where the bulk of those employees may end up.
