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  • 21
    Jul
    2011
    2:08pm, EDT

    NASA via EPA

    The space shuttle Atlantis, appearing like a bean sprout against clouds and city lights, on its way home, as photographed by the Expedition 28 crew of the International Space Station on Thursday, July 21. Airglow over Earth can be seen in the background. The Atlantis returned to Earth marking the end of the space shuttle era when its wheels touched down for the last time at the Kennedy Space Center.

    Unprecedented view of the Atlantis photographed by the Expedition 28 crew

    By Elena Grothe

    What a shot!

    Related content:

    • Space shuttle Atlantis lands, ending an era at NASA
    • Slideshow: Final countdown for Atlantis
    • Shuttle photos on PhotoBlog
    • Cosmic Log on msnbc

    55 comments

    This is the most beautiful sight. What a sweet ending. AS the late Jimmy Durante would say "Aurivoir, Alfweidisan and Inka Dinka Doo". Good night shuttle program. Rest easy. Job well done. (please excuse my spelling)

    Show more
    Explore related topics: space, shuttle, nasa, atlantis, airglowbbb

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Elena Grothe

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