Universe Today
At Wheels Stop with Atlantis ! Here ended the Shuttle Era
A few short hours after the touchdown of Space Shuttle Atlantis closed out NASA’s Space Shuttle Era, myself and a small group of extremely lucky journalists and photographers were invited by NASA to journey to ‘Wheels Stop’ – Runway 15 at the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center for a thrilling and once in a lifetime eyewitness experience to the exact spot where Atlantis rolled to a stop.
After 30 years and 135 missions, the landing of the Final Flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis on July 21, 2011 at 5:57 a.m. concluded America’s Space Shuttle Program. The Grand Finale was commemorated with banners, quilts and celebrations at Runway 15.
The STS-135 crew comprised of Shuttle Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley and Mission Specialists Sandra Magnus and Rex Walheim.
It’s truly an honor and a privilege to be granted this extremely rare and magnificent opportunity to witness history first hand by the folks at NASA and the Kennedy Space Center – and share this with the public. Thank you !
See my Atlantis ‘Wheels Stop’ photo album below and more upcoming from Universe Today colleague Alan Walters
Read my features about the Final Shuttle mission, STS-135: Ghostly Landing of Atlantis Closes America’s Space Shuttle Era Forever Love of Science Drives Last Shuttle Commander – Chris Ferguson Brings Science Museum to Orbit Revolutionary Robotic Refueling Experiment Opens New Research Avenues at Space Station Water Cannon Salute trumpets recovery of Last Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters – Photo Album Shuttle Atlantis Soars to Space One Last time: Photo Album Atlantis Unveiled for Historic Final Flight amidst Stormy Weather Counting down to the Last Shuttle; Stormy weather projected Atlantis Crew Jets to Florida on Independence Day for Final Shuttle Blastoff NASA Sets July 8 for Mandatory Space Shuttle Grand Finale Final Shuttle Voyagers Conduct Countdown Practice at Florida Launch Pad Final Payload for Final Shuttle Flight Delivered to the Launch Pad Last Ever Shuttle Journeys out to the Launch Pad; Photo Gallery Atlantis Goes Vertical for the Last Time Atlantis Rolls to Vehicle Assembly Building with Final Space Shuttle Crew for July 8 Blastoff