Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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February 20, 2008

US Space Shuttle Atlantis Completes Mission
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1B4D1E2:A6F02AD83191E160B85BA41CB1B692D2E55ED32ED25AB8F6& NASA faced
deadline for safe return of Atlantis, as US Navy prepares to shoot
down faulty satellite The U.S. Space Shuttle Atlantis is back on earth
after delivering a new laboratory to the International Space Station.
VOA's Michael Bowman has details from Washington.





Atlantis, shortly after landing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, 20
Feb 2008" hspace=2
src="/english/images/NASA_Atlantis_Landing_2_20Feb08_210.jpg"
width=210 vspace=2 border=0>

Space shuttle Atlantis, shortly after landing at Kennedy Space Center
in Florida, 20 Feb 2008

Sonic booms echoed over Florida as Atlantis returned to Cape
Canaveral, completing a voyage that saw the shuttle log more than
eight million kilometers in orbit.

The 13-day mission included nine days at the International Space
Station, ISS. The orbiter delivered the European Space Agency's
multi-ton science laboratory, Columbus, a critical component of the
space station that NASA says marks the European Space Agency's entry
as an active partner in the station's operations and utilization.





Atlantis participate in live interview, 19 Feb 2008" hspace=2
src="/english/images/NASA_Atlantis_crew_20_Feb08_210.jpg" width=210
vspace=2 border=0>

Crew aboard space shuttle Atlantis participate in live interview, 19
Feb 2008

The mission had been delayed for two months due to mechanical
glitches. NASA hopes it will be the first of multiple shuttle missions
this year as it and other space agencies work to meet a 2010 target
date for completing the space station. Launches have been less
frequent since 2003, when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated as
it re-entered earth's atmosphere, necessitating greater reliance on
Russian vessels for supplying the space station and rotating its crew.

NASA faced a deadline for safe return of Atlantis, as the U.S. Navy
prepares to shoot down a faulty satellite that has fallen out of its
intended orbit and is in danger of scattering debris and toxic fuel.


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