Endeavour Shuttle Makes Final Landing

The Guardian reports

Space shuttle Endeavour and its six astronauts have returned to Earth, completing the second-last mission in Nasa's 30-year program with a safe night-time landing.

Endeavour touched down on the runway a final time under the cover of darkness just as Atlantis, the last shuttle bound for space, arrived at the launch pad for the grand finale in five weeks.

Commander Mark Kelly – whose wife, congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, remains in rehabilitation after being shot – brought Endeavour to a stop before hundreds of onlookers that included the four Atlantis astronauts who will take off in July.

"122 million miles flown during 25 challenging spaceflights," mission control told Kelly and his crewmates, who wrapped up US construction at the International Space Station. "Your landing ends a vibrant legacy for this amazing vehicle that will long be remembered. Welcome home, Endeavour."