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Credit & Copyright: ISS Expedition 28 Crew,
NASA
Explanation:
For the last time, the US Space Shuttle has
approached the International Space Station (ISS).
Following a dramatic
launch from
Cape Canaveral
last week that was
witnessed by an estimated one million people,
Space Shuttle Atlantis on
STS-135
lifted a small crew to a welcome rendezvous three days ago with the orbiting station.
Although NASA is discontinuing the aging shuttle fleet, NASA astronauts in the near
future will be able to visit the ISS on Russian space flights.
Pictured
above, Atlantis rises toward the ISS with its cargo bay doors open, showing a
gleaming metallic
Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module.
Over 200 kilometers below lie the cool
blue
waters of planet Earth.
The much-anticipated
last glide back to Earth for the Space Shuttle is currently
scheduled for next Thursday, July 21.
Tough Quiz: Can you identify what land masses are visible below the shuttle?
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: space shuttle Atlantis - international space station - ISS
Publications with words: space shuttle Atlantis - international space station - ISS
See also: