亚特兰蒂斯号完成航天飞机最后着陆 Atlantis Completes Final Landing of Shuttle Era

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21 July, 2011美国航天飞机“亚特兰蒂斯号”完美着陆,持续30年的美国航天飞机计划就此正式宣告结束。“亚特兰蒂斯号”上的四名宇航员于国际标准时间将近10点在美国南部佛罗里达州的肯尼迪航天中心着陆。“亚特兰蒂斯号”在最佳天气条件下返航,受到数百人迎接。这次使命的指挥员佛格森说,航天飞机为世界服务30多年后,已经在历史上赢得了自己的地位,这一页已经终结。他说,航天飞机改变了人们看待世界和宇宙的方式。
 
“亚特兰蒂斯号”这次为期13天的使命是它26年来的第33次、也是最后一次航行。“亚特兰蒂斯号”是美国航空航天局的第四架航天飞机,于1985年10 月首次升空。航天飞机完成了两百次环球航行,总航程超过八百五十万公里。星期二,宇航员们离开了国际空间站,此前他们用八天时间运送一年的补给,并准备把垃圾和用过的设备运回地球。“亚特兰蒂斯号”和其他存留的航天飞机将退役,并将被公开展览。 The space shuttle Atlantis has made a perfect landing, bringing an end to 30 years of U.S. space shuttle missions.The crew of four astronauts aboard Atlantis touched down just before 10:00 UTC at the Kennedy Space Center in the southeastern state of Florida. Perfect weather conditions and a crowd of hundreds welcomed the shuttle home.Commander Christopher Ferguson said that after serving the world for more than 30 years, the space shuttle has earned its place in history, and has come to a final stop. He said the shuttle has changed the way the world and the universe are viewed.
 
Atlantis' 13-day mission capped off its 33rd and final flight after 26 years in service. The fourth shuttle in NASA's fleet, Atlantis first flew into space in October 1985. The shuttle has made 200 orbits around Earth and a journey of more than eight-and-a-half million kilometers.The crew departed from the International Space Station on Tuesday after an eight-day visit to deliver a year's worth of supplies, and haul trash and used equipment back to Earth.Atlantis, as well as the other remaining shuttles, will be retired from service and put on public display.