Atlantis Landing In California, Finally Home

A post-landing news conference with managers at Kennedy is expected in approx. 30 minutes. The participants will be Ed Weiler, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, Mike Moses, launch integration manager, and Mike Leinbach, space shuttle launch director. A crew news conference is tentative and will be announced later. The ceremony to welcome the astronauts back will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Houston's Ellington Field.

Atlantis Lands in California

With Commander Scott Altman and Pilot Gregory C. Johnson at the controls, space shuttle Atlantis descended to a smooth landing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The STS-125 astronauts concluded their successful mission to the Hubble Space Telescope when the shuttle touched down at 11:39 a.m. EDT.

Atlantis arrived at the Hubble Space Telescope on May 13, and the STS-125 crew performed five spacewalks on five consecutive days to repair and upgrade the telescope.